The tale of a sea monster skeleton near Weipa, Australia, is a modern internet hoax. The story, which first gained viral traction in 2017, claimed that a massive, serpent-like skeleton had washed ashore on a remote beach in Queensland. The accompanying photos, which showed a long, segmented skeleton with a skull and jaws, sent the internet into a frenzy. However, the images and the story were quickly and definitively debunked by experts and amateur sleuths alike.

The “sea monster” was in fact a piece of conceptual art created by an Australian artist named Nick Stathopoulos. The sculpture was made of polyurethane foam, steel, and a variety of other materials, painstakingly crafted to resemble a decaying, unknown sea creature. The artist’s intent was to create a thought-provoking piece about the mysteries of the ocean, but it was quickly co-opted and misinterpreted by online hoaxers.

The Weipa sea monster hoax, like other famous hoaxes such as the “Loch Ness Monster skeleton” from 2016, highlights a recurring pattern in folklore and misinformation. It shows that humans have a deep-seated desire to believe in mythical creatures and the unknown. While the Weipa skeleton was a modern fabrication, it echoes centuries-old maritime legends and hoaxes, such as the famous Fiji Mermaid.