©Mac the pitbull

An unusual puppy found on a freezing cold street has an extra tail growing in the middle of its forehead. Taken in by the Missouri-based Mac’s Mission, the beagle-mix puppy was aptly named Narwhal due to its strange appendage. When the picture of the puppy was released some questioned if it had been photoshopped. Upon closer examination the tail was found not to have any bones inside nor any muscles attached.

While it serves no purpose, it has not been removed as it currently does the pup no harm. Some maintain that the extra tail is due to a mutation, while others have suggested that it is actually the remains of the puppy’s parasitic twin.

Many evolutionists often point to mutations as the source of new information that allows evolution to occur. However in this case, if the tail was caused by a mutation, there are no new genes, or information. Instead, it is simply a replication (albeit in the wrong place) of pre-existing information in the pup’s genome.

The tail also confers no advantage to the pup, and indeed as it grows it will have to be monitored as it may become a nuisance to its vision and have to be removed. While huge numbers of people offered to adopt the adorable pup, the mission decided to keep the dog to train him as a therapy dog.

• Preston, E., Tail on Narwhal the unicorn puppy’s head could really be parasitic twin; independent.co.uk, 16 Nov 2019.