Real life 'unicorn' actually a deer with rare deformity

Friday, November 14, 2014, 2:09 PM - Apparently unicorns do exist in real life.

A roe deer with a rare antler deformity was shot by a hunter in Celjie, Slovenia in August, the National Geographic reports.

The deer's antler was likely warped early in its development, leading to the creation of one horn not unlike that of a unicorn.

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While oddly-shaped antler racks aren't uncommon scientist Boštjan Pokorny, who verified the authenticity of the deer, told National Geographic that the animal may be one of a kind.

Deer hunting is strictly regulated in Slovenia, and the hunter says he selected the 'unicorn' because it was old and had just one antler. He assumed the other had been lost through an injury.

ANTLERS AND THE WEATHER

The life cycle of an antler is largely dependent on climate conditions.

Extended periods of sunlight prompt the release of testosterone in male deers, stimulating antler growth. Antlers are softer between the spring and fall, making them more susceptible to injury.

In the winter testosterone levels fall due to a lack of sunlight, causing antlers to harden.