Cyclopes are normally considered the stuff of legend, made famous by Ancient Greek poet Homer in his immortal epic The Odyssey.
But they exist on Earth and one has just been born in Assam, India.
This baby goat with one enlarged eye has baffled local villagers after its birth on 10 May.
The goat has a condition called cyclopia which develops in the womb when the left and right hemispheres of the brain do not separate as they are meant to early on in pregnancy.
This leads to the formation of a single central cavity with one eye, or sometimes partially fused or separate eyeballs.
The eyelashes and eyelids are absent, as is any true nose.
The upper and lower lips are present, but are usually small, and the upper jaw is short and teeth are missing, which is why the normal sized tongue protrudes.
The condition has been reported in other animals, including horses, pigs, cows, cats and even dusky sharks.
A large number of people have been visiting the village to see the goat.
According to the villagers, the goat is said to be sacred, with some locals beginning to worship the new arrival.
The goat’s owner, Mukhuri Das said: ‘I was shocked. It’s like a miracle and people have been coming to our place to see this baby goat.
‘The owner immediately called vets to check on his new arrival.
He said: ‘They told me it will die in a few days but that was not true.’
Cyclopia is a rare congenital disorder that occurs in both humans and animals.
The front lobe of the embryo’s brain does not develop properly into two separate left and right hemispheres.
A creature with cyclopia may be able to distinguish light and dark but will not have proper vision because the retina won’t form properly.
Creatures with the condition are normally stillborn or die shortly after due to breathing and brain problems.
Its incidence is 1 in 16,000 in born animals and 1 in 200 in miscarried fetuses.
It is caused by genetic defects or toxins ingested during pregnancy such as 2-deoxyjervine, found in the corn lily plant.
It gets its name from the Greek word cyclops which literally means round-eyed.
Vets predicted that the blind goat, who also has only one ear, would die within a few days but he has defied expectations
