The internet is once again ablaze with images of what appear to be the skeletal remains of “Mermaids.” From excavations in sandy pits to mummified displays in glass cases, these photos claim to offer proof that the sirens of myth were real biological entities. One particular photo shows a researcher crouching next to a long, fish-tailed skeleton with a human-like torso, sparking a new wave of “Cryptid” fever among believers.

However, marine biologists and archeologists are quick to throw cold water on these claims. Most of these “discoveries” are historically known as “Feejee Mermaids”—artistic fabrications created by sewing the top half of a juvenile monkey or human model to the bottom half of a large fish. This practice dates back to 19th-century sideshows, most notably those of P.T. Barnum, and continues today as a form of “lithic art” or movie prop design.

The anatomical inconsistencies are the first giveaway for scientists. A mammalian torso would require a completely different respiratory and circulatory system than a piscine tail. Furthermore, the “bone structure” seen in these viral photos often lacks the evolutionary markers of a transitional species. These are not fossils of a lost race; they are the products of human imagination and craftsmanship.

Despite the scientific debunking, the “Mermaid Fossil” remains a powerful piece of digital folklore. It reflects our desire to believe that the oceans still hold secrets that defy our understanding. While these skeletons are art pieces rather than evidence, they continue to fascinate, proving that some myths are far more interesting than the cold, hard truth of the natural world.