A Morroccan mule, which is supposed to be sterile, has baffled scientists by giving birth.
DNA tests say the foal's mother was a mule while the father was a donkey.
Mules are hybrids, a cross between two species, in this case, the horse and the donkey.
They are almost always unable to breed because their genetic make-up is so unusual. The foal inherited a mixture of horse and donkey chromosomes via the mother's ovum
The Society for the Protection of Animals of North Africa, told BBC News Online: "The discovery defies scientific wisdom because mules are supposed to be sterile."
The 14-year-old mother mule gave birth at the end of August, in a small hamlet in the region of Oulmes.
Vets from the Society for the Protection of Animals of North Africa visited the animal and took blood tests for analysis.
The Moroccan foal looks a bit like a baby donkey and a bit like a baby mule - but not exactly like either. Genetically, it is a quarter horse and three quarters donkey.
Despite the results of the blood tests, some experts are still unconvinced. John Pycock, a specialist in equine reproduction at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, said such a birth would be "astounding".
"I'm very sceptical of a mule giving birth after being covered," he said.
How it changed my life:cool 8-)
You can join Unsolved Mysteries and post your own mysteries or
interesting stories for the world to read and respond to Click hereScroll all the way down to read replies.Show all stories by Author:  25828 ( Click here )
Spring is coming |
