The tale of a mermaid skeleton discovered is a modern internet hoax. These stories, which frequently go viral on social media, are typically accompanied by highly realistic but fabricated images and videos of a humanoid skeleton with a fish tail. The hoaxes prey on the public’s enduring fascination with folklore and the mystery of the sea.

The hoaxes are almost always created using one of two methods: digital manipulation or the physical creation of a composite object. Many of the most circulated images are the result of skilled photo manipulation or CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery), where a human skeleton model is seamlessly joined with a fish skeleton. Other hoaxes involve the physical construction of a “mermaid,” a practice that dates back to the Fiji Mermaid of the 19th century.

The reason these hoaxes persist is a testament to the power of a compelling story. They tap into a deep, cultural desire to believe that the world still holds mysteries and that mythical creatures could be real. However, the consistent lack of any credible evidence—no scientific papers, no confirmation from a reputable university, and no physical remains for a public exhibition—is the clearest indicator of their fraudulent nature. The “mermaid skeleton” is not a discovery; it is a piece of modern digital folklore, a modern echo of ancient myths that reminds us to be skeptical of what we see on our screens.