Animal Planet's biggest hit is really a big hoax. Did you miss the disclaimer at the end of "Mermaids: The New Evidence" saying the footage was faked and the "scientists" were played by actors?

It only appears at the end of the "documentary," so it makes sense that many people are wondering if there's actually scientific evidence for the existence of underwater humanoids. Spoiler alert: there isn't.

Television channels formerly focused on science or history have been increasingly blurring the line between fact and fiction in an effort to increase ratings. "Sunday's 'documentary' Mermaids: The New Evidence delivered 3.6 million viewers, shattering the network's ratings record. The program is not only a hoax, but a sequel to a hoax -- to last year's rather effortlessly debunked Mermaids: The Body Found, which fooled more viewers than you'd think," writes internet rumor debunking site Snopes.com.

"The straight-faced Mermaids specials basically play like Alien Autopsy for a new generation, though at least the infamous Fox special had "Fact or Fiction?" as a nudge-nudge subtitle. Both Animal Planet specials purportedly show video of mermaids in the Greenland Sea, with actors playing scientists. The specials also darkly suggest there's government cover-up of mermaid evidence, complete with a spin-off site that says it's been seized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security," Snopes continues.

Even the promotional materials for the Mermaids special kept mostly quiet about the fake footage. "Animal Planet's press release touting the new ratings continued the game, referring to the special's 'exclusive interview with Dr. Paul Robertson, former NOAA scientist.' There was a disclaimer that the program is science fiction, but you have to look for it in the show's closing credits," added Snopes.

While "mockumentaries" -- fake stories shot in documentary style, like the sitcom "The Office," or older fare like the movies "This Is Spinal Tap" and "Best in Show" have long been a defined genre, they are never touted as scientific, nor as "evidence."

Perhaps more worrisome, the Mermaids special insinuates that the United States government was perfectly willing to kill an endangered species of intelligent humanoids in order to conduct more sonar testing.

For its part, Animal Planet is unapologetic for misleading the public, though perhaps only the most gullible. "The phenomenon of 'Mermaids' has truly been a watershed -- and a watercooler -- moment for Animal Planet. These extraordinary television specials have electrified, challenged and entertained television audiences and online fans alike," said Marjorie Kaplan, Animal Planet's president and general manager.

Of course, if Americans continue to tune in to unscientific drivel, nature and science television will go the way of cable news.