A calf with legs growing out of its head was born in Australia
In the Australian state of Queensland, a female calf was born with two extra legs growing from its head. The owners considered putting it down, but a veterinarian suggested performing surgery. After a nearly 90-minute procedure, the calf recovered quickly and was returned to its mother.
A calf with legs growing out of its head was born in Australia
According to the publication Naked Science, citing ABC, veterinarian Megan Smith, who saw the calf named Spider, said that she had not encountered such a situation in her 20 years of practice.
Experts noted that if the extra legs had not been removed, various problems could have arisen as the calf grew, including difficulty in maintaining balance.
Imke Tammen, a specialist at the University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science, stated that it is currently impossible to give an exact reason for this condition.
One possible explanation is the phenomenon of a "parasitic twin." In this case, during the early stages of embryonic development, one fetus absorbs its less developed twin. As a result, certain parts of the second twin's body may remain attached to the developing fetus.
At the same time, Tammen did not rule out other causes. According to her, certain disruptions in the animal's development process could also lead to the appearance of extra legs.
In some cattle species, such a condition is linked to hereditary genetic diseases. Scientists are aware of certain genetic mutations associated with the development of extra legs, but it has not been confirmed that this is the cause of the case with Spider.
There is also no exact data on how often animals born with extra legs occur.
The surgery to remove the extra legs from Spider's head lasted about an hour and a half. Following the procedure, the calf's condition quickly improved.