10 Most Shocking Animal Mutations

#1 Monkey Pig

This is not a hybrid pig-monkey. The facial features of this creature give it the appearance of such a genetic melding but the monkey pig is actually a piglet born in China with a severe facial deformity. Out of a litter of fifteen piglets, this is the only one to sport the unusual facial features. The piglet had an overbite which prevented it from nursing itself and the owner, Chaix Giu of Guizhou Province fed it and cared for the piglet before it died at 6 months of age.

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#2 Piglet Deformities

The monkey pig in China is far from the first piglet to be born with facial deformities. Prior mutations have produced bizarre growths and even human facial features on piglets. There have been hundreds of multi-headed piglets born throughout the world in the past two decades.

#3 Squitten

The existence of the Squitten has nothing to do with failed modification but is inflicted with Radio hypoplasia, which is a side effect of inbreeding. The tiny squitten is forced to stand on its hind legs because it is born with no bones below the elbow joint of their front legs. It sits in a manner that makes it look like a cross between a squirrel and a kitten, and can also be afflicted with malformations such as extra toes and a very short tail.

#4 Albino Spotless Giraffe

While albino animals are rare in the wild, they are becoming more and more common in recent years to the surprise of scientists. The albino spotless giraffe was found in Kenya with 19 other normal giraffes, who didn't seem to notice their friend was missing something. Without its telltale spots, the albino giraffe looks almost like an alien in the face or a horse with an extra long neck.

#5 The Footed Snake

Snakes are creepy to begin with, and the things that haunt your nightmares. But this one is much worse. It has feet! In 2009, Duan Qing Xiu of China, noticed this snake creeping down hew bedroom wall. The 17-inch snake with one leg was discovered to have a claw at the end of its foot. Afraid, she beat the snake to death then decided to preserve it in alcohol to show friends. She brought the snake to the West China Life Sciences University but they never reported back to her on any findings. Since then, several footed snakes have been seen throughout Asia.

#6 Cyclops Kitten

Though it may look like a monstrosity pulled from Greek mythology, the cyclops kitten was a real animal and a freak of nature. The kitten suffered from holoprosencephaly, a condition known to cause facial deformities, and in this case, a single eye where its nose would be. The cyclops kitten was born in 2006 but only survived overnight. Another instance occurred in 2012, when 'Clyde' was born with a single eye as well (right picture). Clyde passed away two days after his birth.

#7 The Three-Headed Frog

In 2004, The Green Umbrella nursery in the UK got its hands on a rare specimen before accidentally letting it go back into the wild. The three-headed, six-legged frog that survived its unusual mutation long enough to be captured once again only to be lost a second time by the nursery. Initially believed to be a trio of frogs huddled together in a manner similar to a mating behavior called multiple amplexus, it was later determined that it was three frogs who had been born fused into one. While it is a marvel, scientists fear it may be an early warning of detrimental environmental problems.

#8 Cyclops Shark

Many believed this shark was a fake or an internet hoax, but it was indeed real. Scientists from the Interdisciplinary Center of Marine Science in La Pax, Mexico studied the strange looking animal to find that the 22 inch, one-eyed shark was real. The tiny shark was pulled from a group of 10 newborns after a fisherman caught a pregnant Dusky shark off the coast of California.

#9 The Winged Cat

As far back as ancient Egypt, depictions of winged animals, especially cats, have been reported. Thought to be some type of mythical beasts, the truth about the winged cat may be rooted in science rather than mythology. Winged cat sightings are not uncommon and it is often just matted fur on loose skin. However, cats can grow wing-like appendages through an abnormality which causes supernumerary limbs such as extra legs or wings.

#10 The Octogoat

On a Croatian farm in 2014, Zoran Papric welcomed into his brood a very unusual goat. Along with two healthy siblings, the tiny goat was born with four extra limbs which were attributed to an underdeveloped twin. Dubbed 'Octogoat' the tiny animal also sported reproductive organs of both a female and male animal. Veterinarians who studied the goat said it would not live past a week, but it survived for 3 years.

#11 Ninety Six Tentacled Octopus

The deep blue seas are home to plenty of weird, bizarre, and strand life forms, some we have not even discovered yet. However, it might be hard to beat an octopus that sports 96 tentacles! The seven pound, 3-foot long creature was discovered in Matoya Bay in 1998 and has been on display at the Shima Marineland Aquarium in Japan, even after it's death which occurred just five months after being captured. Looking like a display of tree roots when spread out, the specimen isn't the only multi-tentacled octopus discovered. Another one found in Japans seas had 85 different tentacles.