Animals never cease to amaze us with their unconditional love and all of the funny and clever things they do. Just when we think we’ve seen it all, mother nature comes along to surprise us. Just like humans, animals also have DNA blueprints that are special and in this case, very eccentric. Instead of scrolling through some viral animal videos, have you ever seen a cat with six toes or a reindeer with blue eyes? Here are some really amazing photographs of animals with extremely unique genetic features that you probably have never seen before.
A turtle shell made up of two completely different halves.
Mother nature may be unpredictable, but she made no mistakes here. Introducing the real life ninja turtle! This turtle shell looks like a piece of artwork with some seriously stunning DNA.
This little bundle of curls is a brown Frillback pigeon.
Check out these frills! Perhaps this is how these birds got their fancy name. They are known as Frillback pigeons and are the result of selective breeding. They are highly sought after due to their appearance. Although they do know how to fly, they prefer to walk and are also domesticated. If pigeon beauty contests exist, we found the lucky winner.
Reindeer eyes change from brown in the summer to blue in the winter.
Reindeers aren’t only known as Santa Clause’s mode of transportation during the holidays, but they really do exist in real life. They exhibit an extremely unique trait with their eyes during the summer and winter months. Amazingly, a reindeer’s eyes go from brown to a deep blue color during the winter which helps enhance their vision.
This peacock might be 50% albino, but it’s 100% unique.
If you were ever wondering what a half albino peacock looks like, here it is folks! They look so majestic and stunning. This unique genetic mutation is rare and only occurs in very few peacocks. Generally, birds with mutations like this are kept in captivity.
A four-legged feline was also born with four ears.
This is Yoda! He was born with an extra set of ears and can actually hear purr-fectly. Cats that are born with four ears have a rare genetic mutation from the mother and father. What’s even more interesting is that each ear is completely functional. Yoda is simply ear-resistable!
A very rare split colored lobster that is half male and half female.
Fresh off the boat! This lobster is literally 1 in 50 million. An extremely rare split-colored lobster was found in Maine and its pigment changes are due to the lobster’s genetics. Luckily, the little lobster was returned to the ocean with a marked tail so other fisherman know that the lobster can’t be kept.
This cat was born with six toes.
Don’t confuse this feline with big foot. Our furry friend was born with some very interesting genes that gave him six toes! This mutation is called polydactyly which is a genetic condition when cats are born with an unusual number of toes. Surprisingly, it’s pretty common and definitely the cutest foot picture we’ve ever seen.
A rainbow of tigers.
When we think of tigers we generally visualize them being two colors, orange and black. However, tigers come in several different colors, mutations, and variations. Although these tigers look beautiful, these different genetic mutations that cause color changes may not always be a positive thing and cause many different health issues.
Pink katydids have a rare genetic condition called erythrism that results in unusual pigmentation.
Insects may not get all the hype and are seen as annoying little creatures, but how pretty is this bright pink katydid? These pink and unique cricket-like insects have a condition called erythrism which causes an abnormal amount of red pigment instead of green pigment. These are so rare that only 1 out of 500 can be spotted. Perhaps we have a better chance of spotting a unicorn.
Due to a rare mutation called chimera, this cat was born with two different colored eyes and a perfectly split face.
By looking at this photo it looks like two different cats morphed into one. Well, essentially it kind of is. This is a chimera cat that was born with two sets of DNA where a pair of embryos fused together while in the mother’s womb. Although this cat might be two-faced, she totally won the genetic lottery.
A wavy-haired mouse with luscious golden locks.
Mice are tiny and adorable, except for when they measle their way into your kitchen pantry. Some rare species of mice can have shiny gold fur, and in even rarer cases, mice can have wavy golden fur. This mouse was simply just born lucky.
Genetically modified pigs light up under ultraviolet lights.
These piglets were born in China and were not harmed in the making of this strange yet remarkable experiment. Scientists in China injected fluorescent protein from jellyfish DNA into pig embryo’s, resulting in glow-in-the-dark pigs. Interestingly, the reason behind this experiment is to help create more cost-effective medicine for patients.
This is Dragon, only around 1% of deer are born this way.
This little guy’s name was “Dragon” and he’s wasn’t your ordinary Bambi. He was born with an extremely rare genetic condition called piebaldism. Deer’s with this condition are also easy prey to wild animals and their mother’s usually reject them. Luckily for Dragon, humans were able to adopt him and care for him until he sadly passed away due to health complications.
A squirrel with a unique color mutation looks like its tail was dumped in a bucket of paint.
This squirrel may have gone over to the dark side, literally. This is a melanistic gray squirrel with a red colored, fox-looking tail. This genetic mutation is quite rare in squirrels, but they look pretty cool that’s for sure. Looks like its DNA wanted to stand out and mission accomplished.
An albino sea turtle with a shell that looks like a snail.
This albino sea turtle is so rare and unique that it’s considered a delicacy to poachers. Luckily, this turtle was saved by the Sea Turtle Reserve in Sri Lanka. Once it was able to fend for itself, the turtle was released back into the wild. Although albino animals in the wild are easy prey and don’t live long, turtles have a higher survival rate compared to other albino animals because of their protective shell.
This is a Banana Mimosa Ball Python and is one of the rarest ball python morphs that can cost around $5,000.
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This snake right here is a female Banana Mimosa Python. Yup, you read that correctly. In addition to it’s fabulous name, it’s one of the rarest ball python morphs and can cost a fortune. If an owner wants to sell this type of python, the asking price can go for around $5,000 if not more.
An albino bottlenose dolphin that looks pink because of its blood vessels.
Pink dolphin’s don’t just exist in cartoons or coloring books. They’re actually real! What an incredible site it would be to see this in the ocean. This dolphin’s name is Angel, and is the world’s only albino dolphin in captivity. Angel was captured off the coast of Japan and grabbed the attention of many with its dashing good looks.
This Macaw parrot has xanthrochromism which causes an excessive yellow pigment in feathers.
Check out this gorgeous Macaw parrot with it’s bright yellow coat of feathers. When we think of parrots we think of multi-colored birds with their unique features and speaking abilities. However, this guy has his own special look.
This cat’s unique fur markings makes him look like a racoon.
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A two-faced cat or a secret identity? We’ll never know, but one thing is for sure, this cat has insanely cool fur markings. Mother nature is unpredictable and sometimes has a good sense of humor when it comes to DNA.
The Andean Bear is the only surviving species of bear in South America.
Andean bears get the their names from the one and only Andes Mountains where these wild bears live. What makes these bears unlike others is the unique markings on their face. They are also referred to as “spectacled” bears because some of them having ring markings around their eyes that makes them look like specs.
“My dog has eyebrows.”
This cutie looks like the Martin Scorsese of dogs. The markings above his eyes give him the perfect little eyebrows. Not too sure if he’s happy about it, but he sure looks like a one-of-a-kind pooch who’s a total catch.
“Meet Riddler, the cow with a question mark pattern on his face.” Got milk?
Just when you think you may have seen it all, you stumble across a photo of a cow with an awesome marking on its face. Yup, it’s real and yes, that’s a question mark. We wonder what he’s thinking or what he wants to ask. Either way, probably the most impressive facial marking ever.
A cat with a black beard who won the genetic jackpot.
Who’d of thought that this cat can “grow” a nicer beard than most guys. This cat is proof of mother natures mind-blowing creations. We can’t help but just stare at this unique facial marking. It’s both unusual and mesmerizing.
This baby zebra was born with spots instead of stripes.
Zebra’s are one of the most recognizable animals in the animal kingdom due to their black and white stripes. But, what can be cuter than a baby zebra? A baby zebra born with white polka dots instead of stripes. This photo was captured in Kenya and this little foal has gone viral ever since.
“No one seems to know why there is an orange alligator in a pond.”
Apparently the community of Charleston in South Carolina are a bit confused as to why there’s an orange alligator in town. Animals come in all different shades, sizes, and patterns, but we know alligators aren’t born orange. Experts believe that this gator is orange due to environmental factors instead of a genetic abnormality.
This albino praying mantis looks like an angelic mythical creature.
Albinism in nature exists and does not discriminate even against insects. This praying mantis is angelically white and looks surreal. However, don’t get confused by its looks, because it still went in for the double kill.
A chimpanzee born with human-like eyes.
When you see it, you can’t unsee it. It’s no secret that primates have human-like traits and are the closest living relatives of humans. In this picture, we see why. This chimpanzee was born with a genetic mutation that caused a white pigment around its eyes instead of brown making it look even more human-like.
A dog that has spots like a cheetah.
Not all mutations are created equally and that’s a very, very good thing. Due to mixed breeding, this dog can almost be mistaken for a cheetah. Mother nature loves sneaking up on us with its wild ways, and this dog has certainly won the DNA lottery.
This is the Ayam Cemani chicken of Indonesia and the entire chicken is solid black including its organs and meat.
Although this chicken may look like a statue, it’s totally real, and super cool to look at. The Ayam Cemani chickens originate from Indonesia and are an extremely rare breed of chickens. Not only are the feathers, face, and feet completely pitch black, but their insides are as well. If you’re ever served black chicken meat, it’s from this chicken right here.
All different types of foxy foxes.
There is a lot of biological diversity in the natural and animal world. Not all foxes come in the same size, shape, and color, and these foxes are proof of that. This threesome of foxy foxes are undoubtedly winners in the genetic department!
A rare half white and red Cardinal bird that is also half male and female.
Cardinals are really special birds and are commonly recognized by their bright red color. However, sometimes these birds are put into a lottery and the prize is a genetic color mutation. This Cardinal looks just as unique as it does beautiful in the wintery backdrop.
Lemon Dalmatians have a genetic condition that creates reddish-brown colored spots.
These Dalmatians certainly know how to pose for the camera and they are absolutely adorable. Dalmatians are popular and known for the black polka dots, but sometimes a recessive gene can create brown-colored spots, and they are called a Lemon Dalmatian. Their lighter colored spots are formed because of a genetic condition and are just has healthy as any other Dalmatian.
A baby goat born with eight legs was also born with male and female reproductive organs.
This little goat was nicknamed “octogoat” and in addition was born with both male and female reproductive organs. Even the farmer had to do a double take to make sure he was really counting eight legs. This goat’s condition may be the result of an under-developed twin. This rare mutation still makes him special!
This albino reindeer is proof that you don’t need color to look spectacular.
Imagine spotting this beauty in nature. Simply majestic! Albinism is an extremely rare genetic condition that prevents the body from producing pigment in animals. Sometimes genetics are unpredictable, but the result can truly be one-of-a-kind.
The King Cheetah is one of the rarest animals to exist in the world.
The cheetah on the right is known as the King Cheetah. They are exceptionally large cats and are identified by their striped markings going down their back and unusual looking spots. This is the result of a genetic mutation of different recessive genes making them one of the rarest animals in the animal kingdom.
A Motley-Golden Child Reticulated Python looks like a stunning rainbow.
Snakes aren’t loved by everyone and are most of the time seen as scary, however, we need to take moment and appreciate the beauty of this colorful python. This is a Motley-Child Reticulated Python and is one of the heaviest snakes in the world. Its unique and rainbow-like skin make it super unique. We may still keep our distance, but it sure is pretty to look at.
A gynandromorphic butterfly has both male and female traits and is two genetically distinct individuals fused into one.
The natural world is full of surprises and the causes of gynandromorphic species isn’t entirely known. This type of butterfly sighting is so rare that it only occurs in 1 in every 10,000. Gynandromorphs are divided between male and female parts, but the result is absolutely striking.
A handful of different colored iguanas.
Iguanas are large lizards and are super unique creatures in the reptile world. They originate from Mexico, South America, and Central America and are common pets. This stunning group of iguanas truly shows us that beauty comes in all different colors.
White lobsters that lack pigment in their shells may be 1 in 100 million.
We’ve seen some different colored lobsters from dark orange, blue, to half brown and half orange. However, this lobster that was caught in Maine might be just 1 in 100 million! Looking closely, the lobster almost looks translucent and shiny. Let’s call this the lobster pearl of the sea. A genetic lottery win!
The pink-necked green pigeon looks like a pastel rainbow.
If only the city pigeons looked like pink-necked green pigeons we’d probably enjoy them more. Unfortunately, it’s not the case, but it is in South East Asia and Indonesia. These mesmerizing and rainbow-like birds are natives there and are truly too beautiful for words. Just check out their feet!
Moses the calf is a holy cow.
This sweet calf named Moses was born with an incredible fur marking in the shape of a cross on his forehead. His owners were surprised to see this when he was born, and they think this symbolic marking might be a sign from above. Either way, this calf gives meaning to the term ‘holy cow.’
Is this a fox or a dog?
Although it might look like a fox, this is one hundred percent dog. His black fur markings on his front and hind legs look like he was dipped in bucket of paint. We know that dogs can get messy and into situations they’re not allowed to be in, but this cute pooch was simply born this way.
The Sunda flying lemur is actually not a lemur and does not fly.
This animal is part of the Coluga family is found throughout Southeast Asia and isn’t considered a real lemur. It also doesn’t fly, but glides instead. The Sunda “flying lemur” can glide through trees of a distance of up to 100 meters. Its unique markings looks like he was splattered with white paint!
A one-of-a-kind, one-eyed albino cyclops shark.
This is a discovery that’s rarely been seen. A one-eyed baby shark! This cyclops shark was found in Mexico and has one functioning eye on the top of its head that is due to a congenital condition called cyclopia. Not many of these sharks are found and more research needs to be studied about them, but turns out, these little guys don’t live too long in the wild. They are certainly one-of-a-kind.
This is Snowflake, the only known albino gorilla to exist.
Meet Snowflake. He is the only known albino gorilla and he was captured in 1966 and spent the remainder of his life at a zoo in Barcelona, Spain. Researchers believe that Snowflake’s albinism was the product of inbreeding, and he died in 2003 of skin cancer. He’ll never be forgotten!
Meet the “zorse”. A zebra-horse hybrid.
Hybrid animals are the mix of two different species, and in this case when it’s a mix between a horse and a zebra, the result is mesmerizing. This “zorse’s” name is Eclyse and she lives in safari park in Germany. What makes her DNA so mysterious is the lack of pigment and stripes she has on parts of her body. However, definitely a beauty.
This is Narnia, a two-faced Chimera cat and blue-eyed beauty.
The owner of this beautiful cat said, “When Narnia was born I was extremely surprised. I knew that immediately he was exceptional.” Truer words have never been spoken. Being “two-faced” isn’t the kindest term to call a human, but when it comes to cat’s, there’s nothing cuter.
A Rottweiler that has a pigment condition called vitiligo.
This sweet looking Rottweiler appears to have some dotted eyebrows, but his unique look and color patterns are due to vitiligo. Vitiligo is a rare condition when parts of the skin loses its pigment. This dogs vitiligo certainly gives him a unique look and is a one-of-a-kind beauty!
A Chimera parakeet that had a blue father and green mother.
Nature is always full of surprises and has yet to disappoint us with its beautiful color mutations in animals, specifically this parakeet. This is one chimera bird that you won’t be able to look away form.
This blue ringed octopus is the one of the most dangerous octopuses in the world.
This blue ringed octopus is certainly a beautiful sight under the ocean waters. As unique and pretty as this octopus is, it’s extremely dangerous and venomous. This is one of those genetic lottery wins where its best to only look and not touch.
This puppy has a pawprint on his pawprint.
There’s nothing like some cute puppy feet, but this has to be the coolest paw print of them all. This dog literally has a paw print on its paw! What are the odds? Keep this cutie safe at all costs, these paw pics can be worth something someday!
Baby mice with unusual fur markings are having a cuddle.
This is one cute litter of mice, and who knew they can be born with different patterns of fur. Mice are generally seen as annoying critters that enter our home uninvited, but these little ones are likely to get a lot of positive attention.
This goat looks like the newest band member of KISS.
This cheery goat is all smiles and it’s totally because he knows he looks good. Although he isn’t really the newest member of KISS, he’s famous for his incredible fur markings. Mother nature produces some incredible things and this goat is one of them.
A family of albino deers playing around in the snow.
The animal kingdom if full of magical colors and sometimes a lack there of. Not matter what, a purely white animal looks majestic. It is important to note however, that these types of animals can have many health problems in addition to being easy pray for predators in the wild.
A rare black and red Cross Fox that has a skin condition called melanism.
This fox might come across as a bit intimidating at first sight, but their unique looks make them quite stunning. This type of rare fox has a condition called melanism, which is actually the opposite of albinism. Melanism in animals create completely black skin and fur patterns. This partially melanistic fox is breathtaking.
This golden zebra named Zoe is rarest zebra in existence.
This lovely girl Zoe is the only known golden zebra in captivity and currently lives in an animal sanctuary in Hawaii. A rare mutation called amelanosis gave Zoe her authentic and unique white and golden stripes. She was also born with big beautiful blue eyes.
The Nile crocodile’s jaw can devour all sorts of animals, including zebras, small hippos, porcupines, birds, and other crocodiles.
The Nile crocodile’s jaw can devour all sorts of animals, including zebras, small hippos, porcupines, birds, and other crocodiles. On average, this deadly predator eats about 50 full meals a year. This beast can eat up to half its body weight at a feeding.
A white widow spider.
So maybe not all creatures are created equally, and this white widow spider is as creepy and sometimes as deadly as it looks. Besides its obvious white color, white widow spiders don’t have any red markings like black widows do. It’s better to stay as far away from them as possible, but they are pretty cool to look at.
A puppy with fur markings that make it look like it’s wearing a mask.
This little pup is as special as ever. It looks like he’s wearing a mask on his face trying to get into some trouble, but those bright blue puppy dog eyes shine right through. If this isn’t a DNA win, then we don’t know what is.
The echidna, a quill-covered monotreme, has a penis with four heads, which are actually rosette-like glans at the end.
The echidna is a quill-covered monotreme (egg-laying mammal), that has a penis with four heads, which are actually rosette-like glans at the end. However, only two of these four glans ever become functional during erection and which glans are functional appears to alternate between subsequent erections.
A goat born with a strange mutation that looks half human.
We know by now that animals come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and of course mutations. Believe it or not, this is a goat that was born with some very interesting looking features that shocked its owners. Unfortunately, it was stillborn and didn’t make it.
This horse has a head full of love.
Just like humans have birthmarks animals have them too. Have you ever seen a horse with a heart birthmark? How incredible! This is one horse that easily to fall in love with. We might wear our hearts on our sleeve, but he wears it (literally) on his head.
Hiss like a cat, sting like a bee.
This cat is the perfect example of when mother nature throws us a curve ball. We did a double take just to make sure we were really looking at a cat and not a bee. This adorable black and orange striped cat is the best thing we’ve seen all day.