Photo by: Photo Credit: Mac's Mission

Photo Credit: Mac's Mission

Narwhal: The One With Two Waggly Tails?

By: Leah Weber

Meet Narwhal, an adorable pup with two tails. But how did this anomaly happen? Read on to learn more.

Narwhals are beautiful sea mammals with one distinct characteristic: a single tusk that gives them the look of a unicorn. So, when a tiny puppy abandoned in the cold and picked up by Mac’s Mission Rescue in Missouri with a tiny tail growing from between his eyes, he practically named himself. After a trip to the vet to make sure there was no medical reason to remove Narwhal’s “horn”, he was given the all clear—the tail can stay!

With fame comes the questions and Narwhal’s little tail has caused quite the ruckus in the veterinary community around the world. Many experts think that this cute irregularity was caused by a genetic mishap in the womb and that it is quite likely that this tail is the remnant of a Parasitic Twin. Though this phenomenon is super rare, it is not out of the question. Other doctors claim it could be caused by a chemical issue during development. We will likely never know the true cause of this cuteness.

The founder of Mac’s Mission, Rochelle, has seen it all; but this is the first time she has ever seen a puppy with two tails. She created this rescue for special needs animals with all different characteristics and she embraces Narwhal’s differences. She has had hundreds of potential fur-ever homes reach out about adopting Narwhal since he went viral, but she has recently decided that she can’t part with the pup. He will make his home at the Rescue and be among his other special friends. He may even train to be a therapy dog!

Next Up

How a Lizard Loses Its Tail (and More Importantly, Keeps it Attached)

Thanks to a complex internal structure, lizards can shed a tail in a pinch… yet keep their tails attached when they need them.

Why You Can’t Escape a Mosquito

Hiding the scent of human blood from mosquitoes is harder than scientists originally thought.

Strange Flat-Faced Dinosaur Fossil is Discovered in Egypt

Scientists in Egypt have uncovered an odd-looking dinosaur with smaller teeth, stumpy arms, and a squashed face similar to a bulldog.

Drone Images of Coastal Kelp Show Recovery is Possible

California’s coastal kelp forests could be making a welcome revival. Drone images show seaweed beds recovering along the north coast in Mendocino and Sonoma counties.

Insect Feed Can Transform the Farming Industry

Feeding insects to farm animals could be the environmental revolution that the livestock industry has been waiting for. Insects, a rich source of protein and part of the natural diet for pigs, poultry, and fish, use a fraction of the land and water needed to raise soybeans for feed and produce lower carbon emissions.

Blind Dogs Can Still Play Fetch. A Newfound Nose-to-Brain Connection Explains Why.

Why are dogs such great sniffers? A new canine connection shows powerful brain links between dogs’ sense of smell and sight.

This Country is Transforming an Abandoned Airport into a Green Oasis

Most old, disused airports are torn down to make way for shiny new developments, although at a huge cost and via a lengthy process.Not Tegel airport, in Berlin, Germany.

Digital Twin Cities Can Shrink the Impact of Planet’s Largest Polluters

Cities are the planet’s largest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions, so they offer the greatest opportunity to tackle climate change. Hitting net zero emissions by 2050, a target set at the COP26 summit, could be achieved more quickly using city digital twins – working virtual replicas – that help track, manage and reduce environmental damage rapidly.

Canadian Museum Rediscovers a New Ancient Shark Species - The First of its Kind

The Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre has recently “rediscovered” an ancient shark skeleton that has been sitting in the museum’s collection for nearly 50 years. Could this shark be a part of a newly discovered ancient shark species?

Volcanology: The Study of Volcanic Activity and Predicting Eruptions

The study of volcanoes and collecting data such as seismic activity, temperature, and chemical changes can help predict eruptions and save lives in the process.