Penn State Associate Research Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Julian Avery, explains why internet sensation "Jimothy" the raccoon looks the way he does. ecosystems.psu.edu/directory/jda121 Short spine syndrome (SSS) is an extraordinarily rare congenital genetic condition in mammals where the vertebrae fail to properly ossify into hard bone during fetal development. Instead, they remain as soft, pliable cartilage, which compresses and permanently fuses together over time. This creates a dramatically shortened, rigid spine, giving the animal a unique, compact, and hunchbacked appearance with a seemingly absent neck.