Mermaid Mummies

Mermaids are one of the most commonly faked creatures, usually in a mummified form. here are some of the most famous examples:

Various supernatural creatures referred to as 'yokai' are displayed in Japanese temples and shrines. This includes several examples of mermaid-like creatures including the example shown below is on display in Zuiryuji Temple, Osaka (Japan, pictured below). (SEE ALSO: UNDATED EXAMPLES--KARUKAYADO TEMPLE).

Perhaps the most famous hoax mermaid was a creature constructed from monkey and fish remains and exhibit by Barnum. He referred to it as the Feegee mermaid (a.k.a. the Feejee/Fiji Mermaid and Sirenfish).

The whereabouts of that mermaid are mot definitively known, although several claim to own it. The mermaid at the Ripley's Museum (Niagra) does not match photographs of the original (right). Nor does the example on display at the Natural History Museum, Austin's Museum of the Weird, or the Australian National Maritime Museum. The Ripley's Oregon mermaid is closer but still no quite right. All of these mermaids may have been perpetuated by meta-hoaxers, selling fake fakes!

This rather unconvincing specimen is on display at Hull Maritime Museum. X-ray images leave little doubt as to it's artificial origin.

This shriveled mermaid has been circulated online as coming from the Philippines (2003) and India (2004), This is actually an artwork by Juan Cabana (see below).

The mermaid pictured left was exhibited as real by Safuan Abu Bakar.

This mermaid was created as an artwork for the annual Coney Island mermaid exhibition.

This toothy mermaid was presumably made and displayed just for fun.

Some tips for making your own mermaid mummy. Mermaid making instructions also appeared in the magazine Fortean Times (Nov., 2009).

Juan Cabana has an ongoing business making mermaid mummies. (As covered by Boing Boing.) Predictably pictures of his creations are sometimes represented as being real mermaid bodies found in locations such as Malayasia.

• The mermaid shown right is displayed as a fake in the British Museum.
• Karukayado Templ, Japan
• British Museum specimen 2
• "Merman" [Taxidermy Museum, Brighton]

Dugongs/manatees are periodically mistaken for mermaids in alive, dead and preserved states.