Mutants of the World

As modern methods of genetic manipulation become more commonplace, we endeavor to chronicle the most interesting, helpful, or artful examples of the craft of genetic manipulation.

Urchinpanzee

Go-Rilla Co. brings us yet another modified simian. This time they have succeeded in the difficult echinoderm-chordata hybridization. The result is doing wonders to protect coral reefs from invasive seaweed.

tags: urchin, chimpanzee, ocean

Mushrew

It's a lovely garden detail, an agile insectivore, and a home protection strategy all in one. Ray Kellogg Labs have made this commercial garden mutant available publicly.

tags: mushroom, shrew, planimal, fungimal

Rhino Bath

Rhinos have always relied on oxpeckers, also called tick birds, to keep their skin clean. Mennenhousen Labs has created this mutant rhino which can attract more of the helpful birds by supplying them a place to keep themselves clean and refreshed in return for their service.

tags: rhinoceros, oxpeckers, bird bath, grass

Hardtop Camel

Dr. Jeff Minter created this mutant camel which includes a shield against wind, rain, and UV rays.

tags: camel, desert, transportation

Sea Bass

tags: bass, guitar, fish, useful, ocean

Arctic Bowler Pear

Ceci n'est pas une chapeau

tags: polar bear, Rene Magritte, arctic

Lemonkey

Most animals can create their own vitamin C. Primates, including humans, can not. Thank goodness for the lemonkey. It's the key to primates getting plenty of L-ascorbic acid.

tags: lemon, monkey, planimal

Old Wives' Cat

Extensive testing has proven that cats do not always land on their feet. Happily, we live in an age where scientists can bend reality to the will of popular aphorisms.

tags: radial symmetry, cat

Penticede

Insiders like to characterize animal engineering as distinct from evolution in that nothing is left to chance. Unfortunately errors still occur. Sometimes an error in the process of development leads to exciting new breakthroughs. Sometimes an error leads to animals like this. It is still unclear how any examples of the pesticide have survived to maturity.

tags: centipede, pentagon, confused ant

Snark

This mutant is part snake, part shark. The flexible cartilage skeleton allows this animal to dig under ground or move at shocking speed along sandy surfaces. The stabilizing fins are also used to help steer when digging. Larger snarks are as much as 20 meters long.

tags: snake, shark, desert