The Merlion is a statue with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. Its name comes from a portmanteau of mermaid and lion. The Merlion was designed by Mr Fraser Brunner, a member of the Souvenir Committee and curator of the Van Kleef Aquarium, for the logo of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (now known as the Singapore Tourism Board (STB)) from 26 March 1964 to 1997. The Merlion continues to be its trademark symbol since 20 July 1966. Although STB has changed their logo in 1997, the STB Act continues to protect the Merlion symbol. Approval must be received from STB before it can be used. The Merlion appears frequently in STB-approved souvenirs.

Based on the Singapore Tourism Board’s publicity campaign, the lion head and fish body of the creature recalls the story of the legendary Sang Nila Utama, who saw a lion while hunting on an island, en route to Malacca. The island eventually became the sea port of Temasek, a precursor to Singapore.