Last year, David and several other marine science bloggers debunked Animal Planet’s amazingly fraudulent mermaid foc-u-mentary (yes, I’m coining that term for fake documentaries that show absolute disdain for their audience. It’s not satire. It’s not parody. It’s a giant middle finger to the public). No need to retread old ground–read the original coverage:

• Mermaids do not exist, and five other important things people should, but do not, know about the ocean
• RIP: Science on TV
• Mermaids Embodies the Rotting Carcass of Science TV

In case you missed them (and who could blame you if you did), here are screen captures of the disclaimers briefly shown at the end of Mermaids: The New Evidence stating that the show is a work of fiction.

 

 

UPDATE: Here are three articles about real marine animals that are significantly more awesome than fake mermaids.

• Five organisms with real super powers that rival their comic book counterparts
• Five more marine organisms that put their superhero counterparts to shame
• The Sex Lives of Spoonworms: 10 marine animals with parasitic, dwarf, and otherwise reduced males

Interested in some good ocean science fiction? Why not check out Fleet: The Complete Collection (also in paperback)!