Strange creature in Thailand

[Jenn]

Comment: I don’t think these photos requires any special comment. This
creature, found on Thailand, is very strange to me. You can see a lot of
local folks in the background that seem to worship this creature they have
“found”. The end result is an even more absurd and even humorous scene.
At least they managed to turn my amazement into laughter by this baby
powder and juices they brought as a tribute to this creature. They have
even brought a fan to keep it well preserved for the scientists.

There has been a lot of debates about what this creature might be and
that is exactly the beauty of mystery, the inability to solve it. It might
be some kind of strange animal, it even looks like a mythical creature.
Honestly I don’t know what to think about this funny and strange event.
These pictures do raise more questions than answers…

[A Turtle Named Mack]

Looks like Nathan Lane to me

A Turtle - with mange, of course - Named Mack

[geminilee]

Deformed pig with encephalization? Maybe not, the tail doesn't fit. But then, if it is a deformity, the tail could also be deformed...

[llewtrah]

I think it's a goat or cow and the head appears to have holoprosencephaly (cyclopia is related to this) hence the relative proportions of the skullcap and the face are odd (the muzzle not having developed at the front and the skullcap becoming more domed).

I have a feline example of severe holoprosencephaly halfway down this page which shows how messed up and unrecognisable the face can become.

[Xia]

Looks like a goat to me.

[imjustasteph]

Isn't it Roger?

[annabohly]

Originally Posted by imjustasteph

Isn't it Roger?

Spanked by imjustasteph! I couldn't remember his name though.

[JoeBentley]

It's a baby SCP-173! Don't let it out of your sight!

[Singing in the Drizzle]

Gave my wife a look, being Thai she might have some input as to what is going on. Definitely Thailand. The blue bottle is Care Hi-Kamin baby powder which is most likely white stuff the thing is covered with. She does think it is a deformed animal and the people are praying to wish it on its way and to bring better luck. She is having a hard time explaining it in terms I would understand.

[Eddylizard]

My first thought as to why they were praying was perhaps that it was to try to make sure none of their other livestock was born (or stillborn) with similar fatal deformities.

That might sound a bit rude to suggest that these people believe their deformed goat is the result of an unhappy deity, so I apologise if I'm wrong.

[TuFurg]

Looked goatish to me too but not the tail. I'm guessing a calf but a farmer I'm not.

[Singing in the Drizzle]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

That might sound a bit rude to suggest that these people believe their deformed goat is the result of an unhappy deity, so I apologise if I'm wrong.

My wife would say it is not a unhappy deity or any deity they are praying to. Their prayers would be to the soul (or Thai equivalent) of the dead animal. They may do this with the early death of any animal. The prayers would also for better fortunes for the next time one and the village.

[Cervus]

You can see a lot of
local folks in the background that seem to worship this creature they have
“found”. The end result is an even more absurd and even humorous scene.
At least they managed to turn my amazement into laughter by this baby
powder and juices they brought as a tribute to this creature. They have
even brought a fan to keep it well preserved for the scientists.

"Ha ha! Let's laugh at the wacky foreigners 'cause they're doing something I don't understand!"

[WildOtaku]

Originally Posted by imjustasteph

Isn't it Roger?

My thoughts exactly. I mean I know he gets around, but he's usually got a disguise on. I guess he must have left the house without one.

Or...


Roger: [after being thought dead and being thrown in a dumpster] Can't a guy go into a stress induced hibernation without getting thrown in the trash?

[RivkahChaya]

Llewtrah, I did some googling to find out if animals like cows and goats have a point in fetal development where their heads appear to sit on their necks in a more human fashion (the way they would need to be for upright bipedalism), before moving into the quadruped position. I know this is true for some other mammals, and if it is true for goats or cows, then this fetus either could be premature, or could have gotten stuck in that phase of development by the unusual structure of its cranium, giving it the "alien autopsy" look from the shoulders up. Do you know whether split-hoofed animals go through the "upright head" phase?

I realize this animal has severe enough deformities that the position of the head on the neck could be an illusion, but I'm still curious.

[Tabbyclaw]

Originally Posted by JoeBentley

It's a baby SCP-173! Don't let it out of your sight!

-Tabby
the princess with claws

[Brad from Georgia]

Augh! Snoopy!

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by RivkahChaya

Do you know whether split-hoofed animals go through the "upright head" phase?

I don't think it's an upright head phase, I think it's the lack of development of the facial bones that gives that impression. If you laid out a cow or goat on its back and compressed the whole muzzle into the cranium (so it didn't protrude beyond the position of the eyes) it would resemble an upright head purely because of the posture and abnormal proportions. However I'm not an embryologist (but clearly embryo development wasn't normal for this individual anyway).

[Lawgiver]

You're all wrong, it's a Tele-Tubby.