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Phocomelia (from Greek seal-limbs) is a congenital disorder that presents at birth very short or absent long bones and flipper-like appearance of hands and sometimes feet. The condition may be inherited or occur sporadically. It is also connected with prenatal exposure to the anti-nausea drug thalidomide. Amphibian deformities often take the form of phocomelia, in which the limbs are shortened due to lack or malformation of long bones, as opposed to amelia, which is characterized by the complete lack of a limb, or polymelia, the presence of extra limbs, which are often fused together. An individual exhibiting phocomelia may be referred to as a phocomelus.
Famous phocomelic people include Stanley Berent, also known as "Sealo The Seal Boy" (who made his living from performing / being exhibited in "freak shows") and, more currently, actor Mat Fraser, opera singer Thomas Quasthoff, guitarist Rick Renstrom and artist Alison Lapper. Marc Quinn's 15ft-high nude sculpture of Alison Lapper Pregnant is shown on the formerly-vacant fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. [1]
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