A recent discovery reveals the existence of a mutated deer with a single antler, resembling the unicorn described in legends.
>>> Rare One-Horned Deer Found
The unicorn is a mythical creature with one horn, often found in legends and children’s fairy tales. However, biologists have recently discovered the skull of a male deer that bears a striking resemblance to this mythical animal.
Skull of the male deer believed to be a real unicorn
It is likely that this unicorn-like antler resulted from an injury to the head that this deer sustained.
According to reports, a hunter inadvertently shot an elderly male deer with a single antler while working in Celje, Slovenia. This deer belongs to the species Capreolus capreolus, which primarily inhabits the European continent. This species is typically small, with reddish or gray-brown fur, and adapts very well to cold environments.
Image of a typical male deer of the Capreolus capreolus species
Expert Boštjan Pokorny accurately identified the biological origin of this deer skull. He expressed that in his lifetime, he has never seen a deer skull as peculiar as this one.
Unicorns may not be imaginary creatures but have existed in history
Pokorny also noted: “In the Capreolus capreolus species, only adult males have antlers, and the antlers are always symmetrically structured on either side of the skull. However, in this case, the two antler structures fused together to create a unique one-horned creature.”
Could the unicorn in legends actually be mutated deer?
Several other experts are also exploring explanations for this fascinating discovery, starting from the mechanisms of antler formation in deer and elk in general.
Antlers are bony structures that develop annually from the skull of deer and elk. They are entirely different from the horns of animals like buffalo, cows, or rhinoceroses, which are made of keratin and never shed.
Kip Adams, a wildlife researcher, remarked: “The cells responsible for antler growth and development are some of the most remarkable cells known to humans.”
Every spring, sunlight stimulates testosterone in male deer, causing their antlers to begin to sprout and grow. After the breeding season (usually in winter), deer antlers start to naturally shed to help conserve body energy.
In the case of this “unicorn”, scientists believe that during the process of new antler growth, the deer may have encountered an accident or sustained an injury to its head. As a result, the antler growth cells mutated, leading to the peculiar 1-in-2 shape of this deer.
Reference: National Geographic
