The Zwaanendael Merman is a rather creepy mermaid cryptid that you can see at the Zwaanendael Museum in Delaware. It was supposedly discovered in the early 1800s by a Dutch sailor who claimed that he found the creature washed ashore. The mermaid was put on display in the town of Zwaanendael and it attracted a lot of attention however it was soon discovered that it was a hoax.
| Cryptid Name: | Zwaanendael Merman |
| Location: | Zwaanendael Museum, Lewes, Delaware, USA |
| Category: | Aquatic Cryptid |
| Description: | Merman with the upper body of a monkey and the lower body of a fish. |
| Size: | Approximately 12 inches / 30cm long. |
| Behavior/Characteristics: | Unknown. |
| Diet: | Unknown. |
| Habitat/Environment: | Unknown. |
| Evidence: | Confirmed Hoaz. |
| Sightings and Encounters: | Displayed in Zwaanendael, but later exposed as a hoax. |
| Skepticism/Explanations: | Revealed to be a fabricated creature made by sewing together a monkey’s upper body with a fish’s lower body. Such creations were common in the 19th century for entertainment purposes. |
What Does The Zwaanendael Merman Look Like?
The Zwaanendael Merman is a supposed mermaid-like creature that has the upper body of a monkey and the lower body of a fish. It has human hair and is about 12 inches / 30 centimeters long.
Is the Zwaanendael Merman A Hoax?
Yes, the Zwaanendael Merman is a hoax. It is believed to have been made in Japan in the mid-1800s. It was given to a member of the Martin family of Lewes by an old sea captain and stayed with the family for almost a century. When the last member of the family passed away, it was almost sold as part of the family’s estate but the citizens of Lewes bought it for $250 and presented it as a gift to the Zwaanendael Museum where you can still see it today.
The Zwaanendael Merman is a taxidermied monkey head that has been sewn onto a fishtail. While some might think it a rather elaborate hoax, it wasn’t unusual for sailors in the 19th century to create this type of art which was used to attract people to sideshows and museums.
Source: Zwaanendael Museum
