A deformity, dysmorphism, or dysmorphic feature is a major abnormality of an organism that makes a part of the body appear or function differently than how it is supposed to.
Fish can be found with scoliosis due to environmental factors[2]
Mortality
Case of acephalus holoacardiacus – born without a head. Was birthed alongside a healthy twin.[3]
In many cases where a major deformity is present at birth, it is the result of an underlying condition severe enough that the baby does not survive very long. The mortality of severely deformed births may be due to a range of complications including missing or non-functioning vital organs, structural defects that prevent necessary function, high susceptibility to injuries, abnormal facial appearance, or infections that eventually lead to death.
In some cases, such as that of twins, one fetus is brought to term healthy, while the other faces major, even life-threatening defects. An example of this is seen in cattle, referred to as amorphous globosus.
In mythology
There are many instances of mythological characters showing signs of a deformity.
The Irish mythology includes the Fomorians, who are almost without exception described as being deformed, possessing only one of what most have two (eyes, arms, legs, etc.) or having larger than normal limbs.
^"Body Deformities". Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program (RAMP). Alberta Environment and Parks Environmental Monitoring and Science Division. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
Hogan CM (2010). "Mutation". In Monosson E, Cleveland CJ (eds.). Encyclopedia of Earth. Washington DC: National Council for Science and the Environment. Archived from the original on 2011-04-30.
