Weird Animals

Weird Animals

Weird animals are not just found in horror or adventure films. In real life there are animals which are weird and bizarre creatures. These are not manufactured but bred or developed from a quirk in their genetic makeup.

Although these animals are bizarre or amusing to look at, they raise serious issues of genetic cruelty. Not only can some of these strange mutations cause a high proportion of still births, the weird features of the animal can also make its life awkward, cumbersome or even curtailed. Most of these weird breeds need extra special care and are not recommended for other than the dedicated animal lover. Indeed, most are not recommended as pets.

The weird animal breeds roadtested recently on ‘Burke’s Backyard’ came from the fish, bird, cat and dog world and include the following breeds or genetic oddities.

Fish breeds

Fish come in a range of shapes and sizes but two of the weirdest breeds must be two goldfish with strange eye mutations.

Bubble Eye Goldfish: The distinguishing feature of the Bubble Eye Goldfish is the water-filled sac which protrudes under each eye. These fish also lack a dorsal fin so have a smooth back, and come in a range of bizarre colours. The sacs under the eyes are so heavy that the fish spends most of its time hovering on the bottom of the aquarium resting the sacs on the gravel surface.

Celestial Goldfish: The eyes of the Celestial Goldfish are on the end of protruding lumps. They point heavenward so giving the fish breed its name. It swims horizontally but its eyes look vertically.

Bird breeds

While some weird features found in birds relate to their mating and courtship displays (for example excessively long tails or exotic plumage) the following weird breeds owe their look to their genes and to breeding work by humans:

Birmingham Roller Pigeon: The Roller Pigeon does not stop flying to tumble in the sky. The acrobatic ability of the Birmingham Roller Pigeon has been developed so that all the birds spin, turn and somersault in midflight.

Chrysanthemum or Mop Budgerigar: Another bizarre feathered creature is the rare Mop or Chrysanthemum Budgerigar, which has long curly feathers that obscure its face. While attractive to look at, these birds do not live for much over a year of age. Their short life span may be due to a protein deficiency caused by the growth of excess feathers. It has been suggested that a high protein diet could give these birds a slightly longer life.

Crested Duck: The Crested Duck has an opening towards the back of its skull which develops into a lump and appears as a muff or a tuft of feathers on the top of the head. One of the risks of breeding Crested Ducks is that a quarter of the offspring bred from two Crested parents will die at birth. The breed is also extremely vulnerable to any trauma to the head.

English Trumpeter Pigeon: This breed is one of very few birds that have four wings. It also has a crest of feathers on its head, which creates a bonnet-like cap, as well as a tuft on its face. The extra wings are found around the bird’s feet where a full wing of flight feathers protrude from either foot like extra wings.

Frizzle Chicken: These flightless chicken are unusual as their feathers are pushed back and curl towards the bird’s head.

Ground Tumbler Pigeon: A bird that would prefer to roll along the ground rather than fly may seem rather weird but that’s how the Ground Tumbler Pigeon was developed. In Germany they are claimed to tumble as far as 18m (60′) along the ground.

Indian Runner Duck: These waterfowls are shaped like wine bottles (with a long neck and body). When disturbed they will stand upright

Jacobin Pigeon: Jacobin pigeons were named after the Jacobin order of monks (dating from 1100) known for their hooded habits (dress). The Jacobin pigeon is characterised by a distinctive muff or cowl of feathers which forms two rosettes on either side of the pigeon’s head, hiding its head and interfering with mating.

Polish Chicken: The Polish Chicken appears to wear a hat of feathers. This look is due to an opening towards the front of skull which develops a large lump. The deformity can lead to the occasional hernia in this breed.

Sebastopol Geese: The appearance of the Sebastopol Goose is that of an unkempt feather duster with a head poking out the top. The long feathers are curly and go in all different directions.

Transylvanian Naked Neck Chicken: The bizarre appearance of the naked neck of the chicken is the result of a gene that reduces the general size and density of feathers leaving the neck, upper thighs, much of the abdomen and the vent totally devoid of feathers.

Cat breeds

Two distinctive features of cats are their fur and pricked ears which is why cats with little or no fur or folded ears look rather strange.

Cornish Rex Cat: The Cornish Rex are curly coated cats that appeared as a spontaneous mutation around the world. The cats have extremely short and curly hair that gives them a rumpled look.

Scottish Fold Cat: Scottish Folds are so named as they have folded ears. Some have straight ears and these are known as Scottish Shorthairs. The folded ear cats should only be bred with upright ear cats or skeletal abnormalities may occur.

Dog breeds

Nakedness is a weird feature found in some dog breeds but the reverse, excessive long hair, has also created some strange breeds.

Chinese Crested: The Chinese Crested is a hairless dog with tufts of hair on its head and around its feet. The hairless gene in the Chinese Crested is semi-lethal. Puppies which carry two genes for hairlessness usually die before birth (two crested parents shouldn’t be bred together to avoid this).

Mexican Hairless: This breed is not yet available in Australia but, where available, for example in the United States, the dogs come in three different sizes and all appear nude as they have no fur. The lack of hair can lead to skin problems and there is also a proportion of the breed that will be born dead because of the mutant gene.

Hungarian Puli: The Hungarian Puli is distinguished by its coat, which looks like a rag mop or dreadlocks. The coat was developed to provide protection from harsh weather and needs special care and maintenance.

Shar Pei: The description of the Shar Pei is that it has a body that is too small for its skin. It has large folds of skin which makes it the most wrinkly dog in the world.

Other breeds

Fainting Goats: Not yet seen in Australia but found in the US is a breed of goats that are inclined to faint briefly before recovering and carrying on. The mutation is known as myatonia. Long-hair Sheltie Guinea Pig (cavy): A guinea pig that looks like a walking rug or mat because its hair grows longer than the length and height of its body. Middle White Pig: This unusual looking pig has white skin, pricked ears, a dished face, short snout and short legs. Due to its colouring it needs a shaded area and natural feed. Miniature horses: Horses have been bred that are more dog-like that horse-like in size.
Nude Mouse: A mouse which like the hairless dogs discussed above is completely without fur. Two-headed Bobtail Skink: This West Australian lizard is found in the wild with two heads.

Further information

Fish breeds

Fancy Goldfish:
Contact your local aquarium

Bird breed

Australian Rare and Minority Breeds Association
Lot 13 Read Street
Elphingstone VIC 3448

Jacobin Pigeons and Birmingham Rollers:
Australian National Pigeon Association
No. 1 Avon Dam Road
Bargo NSW 2574
Phone: (02) 4684 849

Budgerigars:
Budgerigar Society of NSW
Information officer: Barry Ryan
Phone: (02) 9671 5380

Sebastapol Geese & Crested Ducks & Indian Runner Ducks:

Pheasant & Waterfowl Society of Australia

QLD
Steven Armstrong
Phone: 0417 641 759

SA
Ian Siegele
Phone: (08) 8379 9409

VIC
Bret Henderson
Phone: 0400 074 048

WA
Stuart Hearn
Phone: (08) 9390 2542

NSW
Doug Sommerville
Phone: (02) 4828 6619

Frizzle Chooks:

ACT
Queanbeyan High School
Mr Ian Crabb
Agnes Avenue
Queanbeyan 2620

NSW
Bantam Club of NSW
Mr Rod Harris
291 Galston Road
Galston 2159

SA
South Australian Poultry Association Inc
Malcolm Maywald
6 Lime Kiln Road
Tailem Bend 5260
Phone: (08) 8572 4036

VIC
Victorian Poultry Fanciers Association member
Annabel McLeod
55 Old Melbourne Road
Phone: 015 342 596

WA
State Council Exhibition Poultry Breeders of WA
Secretary: Johanna Nordstrom
Phone: (08) 9881 1343

Polish Fowl:

Breeder:
Peter Jones
Phone: (03) 9723 8914

Transylvanian Naked Neck:
Paul and Liz Dujmovich
Transylvanian Naked Neck Association
157 Crown Street
Riverstone 2765
Phone: (02) 9627 3798

Cat breeds

Cornish Rex Cats:
Rex Cat Club of NSW
President: Pam Cross
Phone: (02) 9602 5870

Breeder: Murray White
Phone: (08) 9455 4740

Scottish Fold Cats:
The Australasian Scottish Fold Association
Jon Sternbeck
Sumutra Cattery
98 Francis Street
Leichhardt 2040
Phone: (02) 9560 0754

Dog breeds

Chinese Crested Dogs:
NSW Chinese Crested Club
President: Bill Stevenson
Phone: (02) 4579 6134

Mexican Hairless Dogs:
Breeder
Gabriel Mestre
Phone: 0011 525 211 1496

Mexican Kennel Club
Federacion Canofila Mexacana A.C
Zapotecas No. 29, Col. Tlalcoligia
Del. Tlalpan, Mexico. D.F. 14430

Hungarian Pulis:
Hungarian Puli Club of Victoria
President: Sue Huebner
Phone: (03) 9329 2206

Shar Pei:
Shar Pei Club of Victoria
President: Bev Muscat
Phone: (03) 5428 3884

Other breeds

Fainting goats:International Fainting Goats Association
Ruth Prentice, Registrar
3450 230th Street
Tercil IA 51364 -7510
Phone: (ISD) 0011 1 712 853 6372

Cavy (Guinea Pig):
Cavy Council of Victoria
Secretary: Ken Peddersen
Phone: (03) 9776 5455

Middle White Pig:
Rare Breed Farmer
Geoff Lomas
Phone: (08) 9574 6254

Miniature Horses:
National Miniature Horse and Pony Register
Federal Secretary: Kathleen Rees
PO Box 1219
Bunbury WA 6231
PH: (08) 9728 3083

Bald mice:
Breeder: Rod Wallace
PO Box 1117
Parramatta, NSW, 2124
Phone: 014 604 557
Phone: (02) 9689 1766