Mermaids: The Body Found: What Exactly is the 'Aquatic Ape Theory'?

 

 

When we first premiered "Mermaids: The Body Found" back in May, I must admit I was curious about the aquatic ape teory mentioned in the documentary. I'm fascinated by many of the creatures featured on our cryptozoology page, watched 'Finding Bigfoot' regularly before joining the Animal Planet team, and am often guilty of getting lost in endless loops on Wikipedia and other sites while researching many of the creatures that are said to exist but have yet to be found.

When the opportunity came up to learn a bit more about this aquatic ape theory, I figured I'd share some of my findings with the rest of the world.

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So, what exactly is the aquatic ape theory?

In "Mermaids," it's touched upon in the video below.



In 1960, Marine bioligist Alister Hardy explained the theory in a New Scientist article titled "Was man more aquatic in the past?," saying "My thesis is that a branch of this primitive ape-stock was forced by competition from life in the trees to feed on the sea-shores and to hunt for food, shell fish, sea-urchins etc., in the shallow waters off the coast. I suppose that they were forced into the water just as we have seen happen in so many other groups of terrestrial animals. I am imagining this happening in the warmer parts of the world, in the tropical seas where Man could stand being in the water for relatively long periods, that is, several hours at a stretch."

This theory, which has been rehashed over the years, offers explanations as to why humans lack fur, walk upright on two limbs, and the "encephalization" of the brain (a.k.a. - the proportion of brain mass compared to an animal's total body mass), which could have been caused by increased consumption of fatty acids found in fish.

[Watch More Mermaids Video!]

While compelling, many anthropologists have discredited the theory. So, just how real or viable is it? Could mermaids have come to existence after some of our ape ancestors were forced into the sea?

Check out "Mermaids: The Body Found" when it re-airs Sunday Sept. 2 at 9PM E/P and decide for yourself.

 

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Jodi Westrick is an Associate Interactive Producer for AnimalPlanet.com.

 

Comments

[kat soto]

But most of these people that find this impossible......and yet they believe in God..no mermaids but Jonah lived in a whale...lol that's funny

[mjw]

The worst part is they portray this as fact.. that is why people watch it not know its all theory and fake video. Absolutely no real evidence even though they say their is... Can't believe people think this stuff is real. But I can't believe even more so that producers at "animal" planet have the brass to put this garbage on the air and take it seriously. Should be banned due to mis-leading crazy people..

[Gizem]

Spears found in fishs? Is that real or fiction?

[adriana]

i am not understanding why everyone keeps talking about the government. i mean we havent even explored other planets so why are people saying mermaids dont exist??? i know for a fact they do.

[Natasha]

No matter what we believe in we can all agree that something beyond ourselves put us on this earth. I think this is just a scam from the government. The government is currupted and wants to simply test our reaction on the subject to see who is against them and who is with them. The government is most likely conducting experiments on Mermaids as we speak. It makes alot of since how the government wants to "better" the human race... with all these technological advances.. The USA government wants to create the perfect superhuman.

[Steve]

First, I will say that I'm not convinced and seeing as this was Animal Planet I was disappointed with a what if show. Second, to those wondering about a government conspiracy theory - the proof of this evolutionary wonder would shake the foundation of most major religions. Mass amounts of money would be lost, people would become complacent, and battles would be fought. As a society we have not grown past the childlike behavior of "you can't talk about my dad that way, I'm going to kick your butt" mentality. There would be a good reason a government cover-up would have been done.

[questionnair]

We are still babes in the woods when it comes to understanding the planet we live in. As we all look the same and yet we are all so different. So too are the mysteries of life that surround us. Open your eyes and see the complexities and the differences that surround us. We are not accidents but masterminded, why and how are questions we ponder as we seek for answers. Mermaids maybe intelligent to know that in our differences good and bad people exist, if I were a mermaid I would like to communicate with the good but fear would keep me well hidden from the bad. So would I too hide. Those who stood up to say they found a Mermaid had everything to lose and scientific people look at the factual and presented evidence so are they real? seek the truth as they do, and you will know.

[THOMAS BOLING]

How do you all know that mermaids are not real? How do you know they are real? I challenge anyone to stand next to a deceased mermaid...take a picture standing next to it show proof that the mermaid is real...autopsies...things of that nature. That is when you know whether or not they are real. Animal Planet is not fake. Everything featured here is real life. That does not mean bigfoot exists That does not mean lochness exists. I dont believe they exist however I do believe mermaids exist. Try to go find yourself a mermaid.

[hi]

it is true that mermaids could exist because i know for a fact that we haven't even discovered 50% of our oceans so they could very well be real

[blevier]

the goverment is scard we wont understand them and attack them then they will be gone before e all know

[TwiggyB]

@Marvin and your credibility lies as far as the horizon. I don't believe everything I see with these mythical creature shows, but I leave open the plausibility that there could be. Even there cave painting seem eireely fresh as if it was depicted only months prior. Skepticism is only natural not close mindedness. Thus u should only believe that pirates vikings and old sailors believed they saw man fishes in the days, and leave it at that until you see it or it is widely available as hard facts not theories. This is no more real than saying lochness is still around

[Julia]

all other things aside... why does the government care, if there is no such thing? Thats what I'm interested... why the cover up if its all supposed nonsense?

[Julia]

MERMAIDS ARE REAL

[Greg]

So, if they are really biologists, were spending all this money on "the greatest scientific discovery ever" and they had fresh body parts, how is it conceivable that they made no attempt to sequence DNA?

[Francisco II]

Really possible, arrogancia aparte, es necesario tener humildad al reconocer que no podemos, no podremos, nunca, saberlo todo. Antes, ahora y en el futuro el tiempo y los hechos nos mostrarán cuán poco sabemos del mundo y nosotros mismos.

[Wayne Clarke]

Very very sad that a so called documentary chanel would show such rubbish, it makes many people wonder how much truth the rest of your programs have in them.
It wasn't even done well, very cheap rubbish.

[Nat]

I found the show interesting. They make valid points about the similarities and differences between us and apes. But also the footage of people being able to dilate their pupils.. dolphins working with humans, and even people catching fish with their mouths. Granted those are all EVOLVED learned behaviors.. but none the less. Things like children and humans adapting to situations they're put in like when children are left in the wild to fend for themselves they adapt to the situation and who is to say that it couldn't happen with a semi-aquatic human as well?

[CFnelson]

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Spanish and French Inquisitions of the Catholic Church tortured people in the most beastly ways then roasted them alive for beliefs that today are accepted scientific facts.

[Sally Phillips]

when this thing aired last time it was like listening to a born again Christian try to sell the biblical theory of creation.Someone had a good old time making this up trying to justify a theory.
Here's the problem, the truth is way more interesting. Was there a single real fact in the entire presentation? If there was, do a show on that. Otherwise leave it to
the movie channel
to show us nonsense.

[Michelle]

A lot to digest. The government does keep the public purposely blind to a lot. Possible, yes. Too much historical documentation. I feel for the people that brought it forward. Thank you for bringing it out.

[ck]

I grew up watching Wild Discovery and just about anything on Animal Planet. That was in the 90's. I know it's cliche to point out, but both of your channels air a lot incredibly vapid material, for what, entertainment? As a kid I was mesmerized by just plain informative programs because nature is actually that cool. Airing stuff like this approaches shameful.

To anyone who says that we should always ask "but what if?", and to say otherwise is closed minded, all I can say is that statements like those mean you don't hold Discovery or AP to very high standards. If you watch the show all the way to the credits, it's revealed that the camera phone movie and fishing movie were CGI, which probably shouldn't be a surprise if you recall how awful camera phone video was in the early oughts. You cannot make up evidence. Then it's no longer evidence! No one is claiming that scientists should only explore questions using the conventional wisdom (see Einstein's treatment of measuring the speed of light for exhibit A of outside the box thinking). What you cannot do, or rather shouldn't do, is say "what if mermaids exist?" and then proceed to offer two hours of testimonial evidence, including CGI videos purporting to show actual siting of the creatures, and then say here's real, genuine scientific evidence. See Lady Faith's response above: this 'doc' was crafted. You've got a few actual events: the unidentified audio, the whale beaching, and the naval sonar test. Everything else was added to make a story. Yes, a story. Like a Dan Brown, mix-history-and-fiction type story. Show that on SyFy where viewers at least expect this type of thing, not on the "#1 non-fiction cable channel."

[hollie]

There is TOO MUCH we just don't know about our world. If you took a tablet or a cell phone back even 50 years ago, they would have accused you of being an alien or doing some sort of devil-magic. This is totally viable SCIENCE.
The only thing you're saying "GO AWAY" to is the advancement of our people. like the earth was flatm it takes an open mind to preceive new possibilities.

[Stephanie]

There is no "duping" or misconception. If anything there is a misperception of those with closed minds.. We are a product of evolution plain and simple, but there are many variables that are unaccounted for. Until there is a better counter scientific discount than "because I said they don't exist" the hypothesis is still valid. The burden of proof now lies with the neigh Sayers to prove they don't exist. :p

[Ken]

TERRIBLE! This does NOT belong on Discovery Channel. Please do not air this rubbish anymore. It's already bad enough that your reality shows are scripted.

[Ashi]

I saw the documentary and it was truly amazing. I am really astonished to hear that everyone is just so eager to know about Solar System and various missions related to it but what about marine life and the facts which resides deep in the heart of sea. I came to know that only 2 new species of whales have been discovered in past a few decades. Why this hidden facts of marine doesn't drag much attention and ppl find it fake! I am sure, if not all then most of the points mentioned in the documentary are real which ppl might agree to in the future..
Rgds,