The Adaro were malevolent merman-like sea spirits found in the mythology of

Makira island The island of Makira (also known as San Cristobal and San Cristóbal) is the largest island of Makira-Ulawa Province in the Solomon Islands. It is third most populous island after Malaita and Guadalcanal, with a population of 55,126 as of 2020. ...

, in the

Solomon Islands Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capita ...

. Fox & Drew (1915).

The name

The word ''adaro'' is from the

Arosi language Arosi is a Southeast Solomonic language spoken on the island of Makira. Arosi is primarily spoken by inhabitants who live to the west of the Wango River on Makira (formerly known as San Cristobal Island). Makira is in the easternmost part of the ...

; it had several meanings, including 'corpse; ghost; soul; spirit'. Fox (1978). It contrasts with ''aunga'', a positive word for 'soul'.

Characteristics

Adaro is a unique creature that lived in the Pacific Ocean. The Adaro is very dangerous. Said to arise from the wicked part of a person's spirit, which is divided between the Aunga (good) which dies, and the Adaro (evil) which stays as a ghost. An adaro is described as a man with gills behind his ears, tail fins for feet, a horn like a

shark Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimo ...

's dorsal fin, and a

swordfish Swordfish (''Xiphias gladius''), also known as broadbills in some countries, are large, highly migratory predatory fish characterized by a long, flat, pointed bill. They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category, though elusive. Swordfis ...

or sawfish-like spear growing out of his head. They may also travel in Jaratep or Daretep

waterspout A waterspout is an intense columnar vortex (usually appearing as a funnel cloud, funnel-shaped cloud) that occurs over a body of water. Some are connected to a cumulus congestus cloud, some to a cumuliform cloud and some to a cumulonimbus clou ...

s and along rainbows and are said to kill unwary fishermen by firing flying poisonous fish at them. Will visit man in their dreams to teach them new song and dance. Their chief is name Ngorieru and is said to live off the coast of San Christobal. Passing boats will use their paddles softly so as to not disturb them.

Notes

References

* * Solomon Islands mythology Water spirits Melanesian legendary creatures Piscine and amphibian humanoids Mermen Fictional sharks {{Solomons-stub