Unusual Animals and Animal with Deformities.

I am developing a number of pages on unusual variants on normal animals species. These are the rare, the unusual, the beautiful, the sometimes disturbing deformities that spontaneously occur, combining the peculiarity of genetics and the strange beauty of extremes. Add to that deliberate genetic modifications, extremes of breeding and occasional mishap, and the diversity of animal appearance is truly amazing. Links are provided when the page has been begun, unlinked phrases are pages I intend to develop. Suggestions, critiques and comments are more than welcome.

Most of the examples listed below result from genetic mutations. These are random changes in the genome that cause variations in the animals phenotype, or appearance. Almost all of them, as is to be expected when making changes at random, have a negative--or at best neutral--effect on the animals overall abilities and well-being. In fact many are seen only in fetal or very young animals as they would prevent the animal from growing to maturity.

Unusual Coats and Colors

• Black/Melanistic Animals: Melanistic morphs of many different species.
• Brightly Colored Animals: By mutation or misadventure, animals that come in neao shades.
• Curly Coat: Breeds of animal with natural perms....
• Dreadlocks: Ya mon, animals that have corded coats.
• Hairless Animals: Animals that normally have hair, but don't....
• Hairy Animals: More than usual, that is.
• Leucistic Animals: A mutation leading to white or very pale coloring.
• Purple Squirrels: Squirrels, but purple.
• Spotted Animals: That aren't normally spotted....
• Striped Animals: not, like, zebras... one that normally don't have stripes.
• Transparent Animals: Totally freaky.
• White Animals in Myth and History: Not just that they exist, what people think about them.
• Zebras with a Difference: Did you think zebras only come in black and white stripes? Not so!

Unusual Skin

• Winged Cats: Really, winged cats? Well... sort of.
• Glowing Animals: Putting florescent jellyfish genes into other species....
• Wrinkled: Animals with extra skin.

Extra Parts

• Animals with Extra Ears: Usually one extra set, but sometimes more....
• Animals with Two Tails: And tales thereof....
• Cats with Thumbs: A favorite of Hemingway....
• Cats with Two Tongues: <--just what it says.
• Conjoined Animals: The effects of twins not fully separating in the womb.
• Double Muscled Animals: Myostatin mutation in many different species.
• Duplicate Limbs: feet, digits....
• Three-Eyed Fish: The real Blinky!
  
• Two-Headed Animals: <--What it says on the box.

Unusual Size

• Giant Animals: Just like normal animals, only bigger.
• Miniature Animals: Just like normal animals, only smaller.

Missing Parts

• Animals with Prosthetics--Not letting a lost body part slow then down!
• Cyclops: One-eyed wonders.
• Tailless: Lost or missing tails....
• Two legged pigs: Who are getting around just fine!

Unusual Behaviors

• Fainting and Ragdoll Animals: Animals that spontaneously go limp or collapse on the ground.
• Rage Disorders: Sometimes it isn't really the animal's fault.
• Fear and Stress Disorders: Not enough breeding... or sometimes too much.

Rare and Rediscovered

• The un-extinct--Rare species offer us one last chance at conservation (usually in vain).

I have another series of hub on the subject of mythological and fantasy animals. The following are hub about real animals and simulacrums that are either hoaxes or deliberate homages to these animals.  But there is not suggestion at least from the owner/creators of the  animals covered in this section that they really are their mythological counterpart.

• Fake Zebras: Zebras that... aren't.
• The Jackalope: a.k.a. the jackalopes on you!
• Mermaid Mummies: As in mummified, not mummies and daddies :)
• "Real" Unicorns: Whether wishful thinking, or deliberate hoaxes... actually unicorns (if you go by appearance).
• The White Hart: White stags have an important place in mythology, but they also exist in real life!

• Fake Zebras: Zebras on a budget.
• Mechanical Horses: Can you really make a functioning horse robot? No! But that doesn't stop people from trying.
• Weird Carcasses: Chupacabra, or not?

• Animal Memes
• Strange Things People do with Animals