The Mystery of the 'Amazon Snake Cat' Photo: Real or Fake?

A photo of a supposed "Amazon snake cat" has gone viral on social media, causing a debate among people who are weighing in on whether they think the image is real or fake. The photo shows what’s reported to be a wild cat with scale-patterned fur that looks yellow and navy-to-black. Several social media users who have uploaded the photo claim the cat species is called "serpens catus," which means "serpent" and "knowing, clever, shrewd, wise, prudent or circumspect" in Latin. However, there are no scientific journals or reports confirming the existence of a legitimate Amazon snake cat at the time of publication.