Rare two-headed diamondback baby turtle hatchling found in Cape Cod

Rare two-headed diamondback baby turtle hatchling found in Cape Cod

A rare two-headed diamondback terrapin hatchling is receiving care at the Cape Wildlife Center on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, after arriving from a protected nesting site in the nearby town of Wellfleet.

The 5.2-gram hatchling was brought to the center by the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

Its condition, known as bicephaly, is a rare developmental anomaly in which an animal develops two heads.

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Veterinary staff will closely monitor the terrapin as they learn more about how its two heads and body function together. The team is tracking its appetite, growth and behavior while assessing its overall health.

The center said it has encountered only two other bicephalic cases in recent years.

“We’ve only seen two other bicephalic cases in the last 5 years, making this still an especially rare case for our team. While we’ve encountered this unusual condition before, every case gives us another opportunity to learn more about these fascinating animals’ anatomy and physiology,” a statement from the center reads.

For now, the tiny hatchling rema...