Mountain lion with bizarre deformity found in Southeast Idaho

This is pretty cool/weird.

This mountain lion was killed in Idaho, but when the hunter got close he saw an abnormal growth on the side of the animals head.

The yearling cougar, which was harvested near Weston last week by an unidentified hunter, had a separate set of teeth growing out the side of its forehead. The community of Weston is located about 12 miles southwest of Preston near the Idaho/Utah border.

Idahostatejournal


I'm not really sure what to make of this. A natural birth defect? A tumor? While uncommon they do happen. I wonder if there are any chemical companies or industrial operations in the area.

The biologists and veterinarians said it could also be a teratoma, which is a rare tumor that can contain hair, teeth and bones. In rare circumstances, a teratoma can also sprout more complex body parts such as eyes, fingers or toes.
Like conjoined twins, teratomas are rare in both humans and animals but have been documented in canines and horses.

Either way, I thought it was kind of neat and ATS would find it interesting.

I've been seeing this make it's rounds on social media (C2C, Clyde Lewis, random pages, etc.).

It's pretty creepy looking. Birth defect would be my guess (or hoax).

a reply to: watchitburn

Is that a chicken growing out of it's head or just something that resembles a chicken?

Possibly a twin that was born inside the other?

A chimera?

a reply to: TheBulk

Is that a chicken growing out of it's head or just something that resembles a chicken?

Another jaw.

originally posted by: TheBulk
a reply to: watchitburn

Is that a chicken growing out of it's head or just something that resembles a chicken?

Nice catch, I see the chicken now too

As the article says, it's either a conjoined twin or a tumour.

Hmm, a tumour that grows teeth?

originally posted by: watchitburn
I wonder if there are any chemical companies or industrial operations in the area.

I don't.

These things happen in nature from time to time, so our first assumption should be natural occurrence rather than due to some chemical issue due to a human habitation. A single specimen would not suggest it was due to human habitation. If there was severe increase in the population, then yes, turn to human habitation for a likely cause.

Would have to agree with teratoma . A teratoma may be a genetic mutation but the gene hasn't been identified.

Too bad the cougar was killed before this was known it may have benefited for the sake of the area's wildlife and more if it were examined or to be examined after death beyond using a tooth for DNA extraction which the sources are saying. So hopefully it can be done. X-rays would be interesting to see at least.

a reply to: watchitburn
It looks like a twin that was partially absorbed while still in the uterus. It looks like the twin's jaw.

They are called teratomas and aren't unheard of.

a reply to: TheBulk

It has to be a chicken. A GMO cougar that produces its own food? It just has to think about whats for dinner and presto. Im glad it wasnt thinking about a cow.

That is a conjoined twin. Basically the cougar absorbed its twin in the womb. Surprised though usually the mother would have killed a deformed kitten like that. Culling the herd so to speak.

That's pretty bizarre but I will never understand why anyone would want to kill one of the majestic cats (unless it's eating you or your livestock of course)

a reply to: Asktheanimals
Off topic: For some reason I got a chuckle about someone with the name Asktheanimals commenting on a thread asking about an animal. Struck me as funny.
On topic: Maybe they thought they were putting it out of its misery. They are beautiful animals though.

Could be a natural mutation. People do grow horns.

a reply to: watchitburn

That is very possibly real, and if so, mot likely a tumor or a birth defect. Poor thing; in this case, glad it was shot. Would likely have had problems, that had to be painful, and problems can lead to it becoming a threat. Weird deformity, for certain!

originally posted by: TheBulk
a reply to: watchitburn

Is that a chicken growing out of it's head or just something that resembles a chicken?

Wow, haha, I didn't see that until you mentioned that, but it looks more like a cardinal or a bluejay without the blue color

Or a chicken, that works too That is just way too weird.

originally posted by: Asktheanimals
That's pretty bizarre but I will never understand why anyone would want to kill one of the majestic cats (unless it's eating you or your livestock of course)

I feel that way also. Notice the wording in the article that plays down the murder of this poor animal. They said it was a yearling cougar that was "harvested". Wow, do I hate such disrespect for a creature that was challenged like that and still able to survive in the wild. Shame.

a reply to: texasyeti

I'm with you. I did some research on this stuff long ago. It is indeed a parasitic conjoined twin, though they were once also called teratomas in the literature also. It looks like a parasitic craniopagus type of conjoined twin most likely ... and it would be interesting to see an x-ray or MRI, though I doubt the will spend the coin needed to get that done hah