On 24a, the Gemoro discusses the Shesua.
1) Rav says that about the Shesua "Berya BeAlma Lesa" - does this mean that it does not exist outside the mother's womb, because it dies?
2) I was also thinking that whatever the unusual features of the Shesua, might this explain why it is mentioned in the list of forbidden animals in Re'eh, but not in the list in Shmini? (Interestingly, in both sedras the loshon is "V'Ze..." implying that Moshe pointed to the animals)
Meir Eliezer Bergman, Manchester UK
1. Yes, the word "b'Alma" means that there is no such creature that can live "out in the world," but one might find it in the mother's womb.
2. The Gemara in Bechoros (6b) states that the reason why the Tahor animals and Tamei animals are repeated in Parshas Re'eh even though they have already been listed in Parshas Shemini is in order to mention "ha'Shesu'a" among the animals and "Ra'ah" amongst the birds, which are the only two new ones mentioned. This suggests, as you write, that the Shesu'a is an unusual creature, which is why it was not mentioned in the first listing of the Torah.
3. Yes, you have made another very good point about Moshe Rabeinu pointing out the animals. In fact, the Gemara in Chulin (60b) asks, "Was Moshe Rabeinu a Kenigi or a Belisteri?" That is, was Moshe Rabeinu a hunter such that he knew so much about these unusual creatures? The Gemara concludes that one learns from here that the Torah is Min ha'Shamayim, because if Hash-m had not taught Moshe Rabeinu all of this knowledge it would not be possible for a human being to acquire it all on his own.
Kol Tuv,
Dovid Bloom