Iara
Brazilian water mermaid - 'Iara' from Old Tupi 'yîara' = 'water lady.' Origin: based on Tupi-Guarani. Early form: Ipupiara (carnivorous fish-man monster devouring fishermen). Legend: beautiful Indigenous woman betrayed by Brothers who murdered her at night. Fish saved her, turned into Mermaid on full moon. Now Seduces and Drowns all men for revenge. Conflated with African Iemanjá (Yoruba orisha) during colonization. 'Mãe das Águas' = Mother of Waters. Different from Iemanjá: freshwater vs saltwater. Documented by Câmara Cascudo