Deformed Mountain Lion Had Teeth Growing Out of Its Forehead
Posted on January 10, 2016
A deformed mountain lion shot in Idaho had an extra set of fully-formed teeth growing from its forehead. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game says the lion was legally shot after being observed attacking a dog on a landowner's property in the rural Weston area of Idaho.
In addition to the teeth the lion also had small whiskers growing out of the fur-covered tissue on the left side of its forehead. The Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) shared a couple possibilities for the unusual deformity in a release.
The teeth could be the remnants of conjoined twin that died in the womb. A second theory is that the teeth and whiskers could be what it is known as a teratoma tumor. The IDFG says rare tumors like these "are composed of tissue from which teeth, hair, and even fingers and toes can develop."
A National Wildlife Federation entry on mountain lions says the animal has the greatest range any extant mammal in the Americas. They typically hunt at night and feed primarily on deer. Mountain lions will also eat small animals and insects.