Science

Have You Ever Seen a Mutant Cyclops Shark?

Rare Cyclops Shark and Fetuses Found off Mexican Coast

(Photo: Enrique Lucero León)

This creature almost doesn’t seem real with its single, giant eye, bulbous head and oddly pale coloration.

Believe it or not, it’s actually a very common species of bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, with a mutant twist. The mutation is called cyclopia and can occur in humans and other animals, although extremely rare in all species.

Rare Cyclops Shark and Fetuses Found off Mexican Coast

Comparing the cyclops mutant shark to a normal bull shark. (Photo: Enrique Lucero León)

Rare Cyclops Shark and Fetuses Found off Mexican Coast

A side angle comparison of the mutant version and normal version of the species. (Photo: Enrique Lucero León)

According to National Geographic, a dead female bull shark carrying nine fetuses was caught earlier this year by a fisherman off the coast of Mexico. The fetuses eyes’, although they were dead, remained in tact in the womb giving researchers the chance for a good look.

Rare Cyclops Shark and Fetuses Found off Mexican Coast

(Photo: Enrique Lucero León)

National Geographic quotes University of Northern Florida as saying that cyclops sharks have been found before as embryos:

The fact that none have been caught outside the womb suggests cyclops sharks don’t survive long in the wild.

Overall, finding such an unusual animal reinforces that scientists still have a lot to learn, Gelsleichter added.

“It‘s a humbling experience to realize you ain’t seen it all yet.”

Rare Cyclops Shark and Fetuses Found off Mexican Coast

The mother shark was already dead and beginning to decompose when she was found, but she held nine, intact fetuses. (Photo: Marcela Berjarano Alvarez)

Rare Cyclops Shark and Fetuses Found off Mexican Coast

(Photo: Marcela Bejarano Alvarez)

Comments (90)

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  • PApeacemaker
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:45am

    I bet its Blinky’s brother & it was caught in Springfield by one of the Simpson family lol

    Report Post » PApeacemaker  
  • justlistentome
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:44am

    So, do the live ones have tunnel vision??

    Report Post »  
    • Pontiac
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:06am

      “tunnel vision”
      Uh no… Cover one of your eyes. That’s not tunnel vision.

      I wanna hurl after seeing those pics…

      Report Post » Pontiac  
    • bum
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 2:40pm

      you mean no depth perception

      Report Post » bum  
    • 4xeverything
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 5:20pm

      Sharks eyes are on the sides of their heads…meaning that they don’t have depth perception like humans. Our eyes both focus in on an object together, and use shadows for a more refined perception of what the object is, what it is doing, and how far away it is from us. That cyclops shark (if it is not blind) only has to deal with being able to see from the front only instead of from both sides of it’s head simultaneously, but since it is a Bull shark I don’t think it has to many predators other than man anyway.

      Report Post » 4xeverything  
  • This_Individual
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:27am

    Are there any cyclopic politicians? :)

    Report Post »  
  • countryfirst
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:18am

    It’s a white fish that stands out among the group and only has one eye, how could it possibly survive without government assistance.

    Report Post » countryfirst  
  • Ferrarello
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:16am

    Poor guy . ( Cyclops)

    Report Post » Ferrarello  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:03am

    Some lawyer lost his kid!!!

    Report Post » banjarmon  
  • Evil_Conservative
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:01am

    Strangely i think of Austin Powers 2 – “come on down and see the one eyed monster” “that looks like a ….”

    Report Post » Evil_Conservative  
  • GA_dandelion
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:53am

    Thank you Blaze…nice break

    Report Post » GA_dandelion  
  • Zoe
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:44am

    Gee Darwin, am I supposed to have one eye in my forehead? I’m feeling rather advanced!

    Report Post » Zoe  
  • autigers2010champs
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:35am

    What the HELL?? That is crazy looking how cool had it lived and been raised. He is the reason I don’t swim in the ocean.

    Report Post » autigers2010champs  
  • MOLLYPITCHER
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:34am

    What the hell? Has the Blaze turned into the National Inquirer?

    Report Post »  
  • Darren
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:07am

    Hope nobody blames globalwarming.

    Report Post » Darren  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:39am

      I sure hope no believes this story. It’s so obviously a fake that only a true idiot could believe it. Just like AGW

      Report Post »  
    • Homeschooled
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:01am

      I’m sorry Smithclar3nc3, how is this faked exactly? I’m pretty sure the blaze only puts up true stories. I am also positive that, that is a real shark and that can really happen.

      Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:23am

      Look at the the photos dumba55. You can even see where the fake eye socket is pulling from the mold.

      Report Post »  
    • Charybdis
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:00pm

      Well, to be fair, this isn’t a Blaze-generated story, but a link from a National Geographic article. So if it’s fake, then it fooled them as well. Not that that hasn’t happened before with them. The Archaeoraptor hoax from China several years back comes to mind. So take it with a grain of salt I guess. Only this critter was apparently available for soft-tissue study, unlike the so-called Archaeorapter. So I tend to think it’s very real.

      Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:44pm

      Hey char,you need to read more carefully NATIONAL GEO. never touched this supposed creature. So your claim enspoucing the had soft tissue is unsubstantiated.They did claim to have found one eye shark fetuses in a dead Bull shark. This one was supposedly caught alive.

      Report Post »  
    • Charybdis
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 1:43pm

      No, you misinterpreted what I said. I didn’t claim NG actually performed a soft-tissue study. Only that, unlike Archeaorapter (which was presumably a fossil), this was a creature photographed as a soft-tissue specimen. And the NG apparently decided that the discovery was real enough to write an article about, noting that this type of mutation has been shown to occur in a number of different species. So if you have an issue with it’s legitimacy, your beef should be with NG as a professional organization, rather than with the Blaze or those who take the find at face value.

      Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 3:13pm

      Char,
      Take the words of one of greatest Founding Father apply them in your everyday life.
      Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.
      Point being just because a website you like prints something doesn’t always make it a FACT

      Report Post »  
    • Charybdis
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 5:09pm

      Actually, I do live my life that way. This latest fish could indeed be found to be a hoax. Fine, whatever. But since there is a scientifically verified precedent for such a mutation, it’s not outside the realm of possibility.

      Report Post »  
    • UrsaMajor
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:03am

      I’ve never seen anything like it before, therefore is fake. I even looked up cyclopia online AND in my encyclopedia set. Although there are several references, I have never PERSONALLY experienced it, so, it does not exist.

      My logic is FLAWLESS!

      Report Post »  
    • UrsaMajor
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:06am

      You quote the founders yet you take the very left-wing, progressive, pseudo-intellectual stance of, “If it has not been discovered by our God ~SCIENCE~ then it does not exist.”

      Report Post »  
    • grayling646
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 6:16am

      I think it‘s an October fool’s day joke

      Report Post »  
  • Meyvn
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:45am

    Awesome. haha.

    Report Post » Meyvn  
  • TomFerrari
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:45am

    What, no wooden shoe?

    “Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
    — And Nod is a little head,
    And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
    — Is a wee one’s trundle-bed;
    So shut your eyes while Mother sings
    — Of wonderful sights that be,
    And you shall see the beautiful things
    — As you rock in the misty sea
    Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:—
    ——– Wynken,
    ——– Blynken,
    ——– And Nod.”

    So, was this Wynken or Blynken?

    Report Post » TomFerrari  
  • ZengaPA65
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:31am

    Willy the one eyed wonder shark!

    Report Post » ZengaPA65  
    • BrandyWilson
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:40am

      It was a one-eyed…one-finned…swimming….white-people-eater!…..Freaky as all get out!

      Report Post »  
    • oohisis
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:21am

      lol…as I was scrolling down reading the comments, I started humming that song!!!

      Report Post » oohisis  
  • Locksmith
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:19am

    @SNOW: you mean “UNcommon sense”, right? ;)

    Report Post »  
  • Harryc123
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:13am

    9 fetuses in the womb of a dead mother? Obviously the republicans fault. They want this to happen.

    Report Post » Harryc123  
  • Discord
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:12am

    Old news is really old.

    Report Post » Discord  
  • quicker
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:04am

    OH MY GOD, it`s Obamas adviser.

    Report Post » quicker  
  • TwoLazy
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:50am

    The head shape looks suspiciously like that of a whale …. Hummm … could there have been some hanky panky there?

    Report Post » TwoLazy  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:49am

    I think I see a DISNEY film in his future! How adorable and lovable is he? Kids would love a feel good story about acceptance using this little guy!

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:37am

      Only if HeeeeEEeee SpeeEeeEeaks WhaaaaAAAaaale and has a “lucky eye”.

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:10am

      Did that sound a bit orca-ish?

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • Indymaverick
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:34am

      I see a marketing opportunity here. Willy the one eyed shark stuffed animals and toys !!

      Report Post » Indymaverick  
  • FeliciaJewel
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:49am

    My great uncle said to me once, the day you realize that you don’t know it all is the day you become intelligent. This just proves I have not seen it all or heard it all. Waiting for tomorrow to see what I will learn!!!

    Report Post » FeliciaJewel  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:45am

    The first thing that popped into my mind was ‘Futurama’!

    Report Post » KickinBack  
  • niki
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:41am

    He’s so cute. I wish they had let him live.

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:39am

    .
    BP did you do that?…………

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
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