The photo is undated but was apparently found in the research center’s park in the Tuscan town of Prato, near Florence, Gilberto Tozzi. His twin had two horns, which makes this little guy here a freak of nature.

Calling it the first time he has seen such a case, Tozzi said such anomalies among deer may have inspired the myth of the unicorn.

The unicorn, a horse-like creature with magical healing powers, has appeared in legends and stories throughout history, from ancient and medieval texts to the adventures of Harry Potter.

“This shows that even in past times, there could have been animals with this anomaly,” he said by telephone. “It’s not like they dreamed it up.”

Single-horned deer are rare but not unheard of — but even more unusual is the central positioning of the horn, experts said.

Other things that happened in Italy:

• Ancient Skeletons Found in Final Embrace
• First cloned horse unveiled in Italy
• The monster revealed

(via single minded yahoo news)