Scientists Identify the ‘Mermaid’ That Washed Up in Japan as Being a Monkey-Fish-Lizard Hybrid

Known as the Fejee (Fiji) Mermaids, there have since been several findings of these strange and intriguing mummies. Now, thanks to modern science, we finally know what they are.

From Greek mythology to Irish tales, the legend of the mermaid has always inspired wonder and awe. In 720 CE, a book of Japan’s mythology mentioned a “ningyo” or a human-like fish-monkey hybrid, citing ancient stories of fishermen who had actually caught such specimens.

However, his young daughter thought it was just another fish and ate it. Just as her father suspected, she was cursed with eternal youth and life and the woman had to watch everyone she loved die while she lived on as a nun for 800 years.

Some were placed in temples, others were sold to travelers from far away lands, and then, later in the 17th and 18th centuries, many ningyos were used to draw in customers at carnivals.

Barnum claimed that “to the wonder and astonishment of thousands of naturalists and other scientific persons, who previous doubts of the existence of such an astonishing creation were entirely removed” after seeing the mermaid.

The few Fejee Mermaids in existence were sold for incredible sums, some for as much as $100,000 in today’s economy. Then, many found their ways to museums and books were written about their mythology and genetic makeup.

Carnival directors like Barnum had no moral issue misleading the public and telling them that these strange mummies were, in fact, real. However, museums showcased the “mermaid” as a piece of history, not as an actual animal.

The most commonly accepted theory is that in ancient Japan, during the last few centuries before the Common Era, the legend of the 800-year-old nun became quite well known. Therefore, some people would make ningyos and sell them to others hoping to live forever.

But as they were considered rare and even dangerous treasures, no one dared take them apart to find out what was really inside. The Fejee Mermaids have remained in museums exactly as they were found over 100 years ago.

Joseph Cress, a radiographer at Northern Kentucky University, spearheaded the project and told LiveScience that they used both CT scans and an X-ray machine “to see [the mummy] in almost every dimension in the hopes to see what was inside it.”

They also found wooden sticks inside the body between the shoulder blades and from the head to the tail to keep the creature in one piece.

The myth of the Fejee Mermaid and the ancient Japanese ningyo is finally solved. And while scientists are likely thrilled to finally have a concrete answer for these mysterious creatures, those who liked to believe may be disappointed by the not-so-magical truth.