A mountain lion has been discovered in southeast Idaho with
a second set of teeth growing out of its head.
The big cat was killed by an unidentified hunter last week
in Weston, who then reported the animal's bizarre deformity to the authorities,
Idaho State Journal reports.
Idaho conservation officers, who were sent a photograph of
the kill, were shocked to find the year-old lion had a separate set of teeth
growing out the left side of its forehead.
Experts have not been able to agree on the cause of the
unusual mutation.
One theory is that the mountain lion's extra set of teeth
may be remnants from a conjoined twin which died in the womb.
Another is that it is a type of tumor called a teratoma
which can sometimes grow other body parts such as hair, teeth, bones - even
eyes.
Regional wildlife biologist Zach Lockyer told Idaho State
Journal the unusual deformity had left experts stumped.
'It's a bizarre situation and a bizarre photo,' he added.
'We may never know why those teeth are there.'
The hunter which killed the mountain lion had been planning
to take the rare kill to a taxidermist.
But Idaho Fish and Game's Southeast Regional Office, in
Pocatello, are hoping to bring the carcass in for examination.
They are hoping X-rays and analysis may reveal the mystery
to why the big cat developed such a fearsome second set of teeth.
A mountain lion with a second set of teeth growing out of
its head has been discovered in Southeast Idaho
Experts believe that the big cat may have developed the
second set of teeth as part of a rare tumor (stock picture of a typical
mountain lion)
