From Cape Wildlife Center
Talk about a double take !!
This diamondback terrapin hatchling has two heads - a rare developmental anomaly called bicephaly.
The 5.2-gram hatchling arrived today at the Cape Wildlife Center from a protected nesting site in Wellfleet, brought to us by the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Our veterinary team will be closely monitoring the little terrapin as we learn more about how their two heads and bodies work together.
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.
For now, our team is monitoring this little one's (two's?) appetite, growth, and behavior closely.

30 Comments
anon6789@lemmy.world · 29 pts · 23h
Blurntout@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 21h
Cutest smol guy
A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 6 pts · 20h
1 guy or 2 guys, that is the question!
anon6789@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 19h
Or maybe 1/2 gals! I looked it up how to tell, and you can't differentiate the sex until the shell reaches 4 inches/10 cm. I'm assuming they would be the same gender since it just looks like one ova that didn't seperate, but I know nil about reptile reproduction.
It would seem to have 2 brains, so they would experience life at least partially different than each other, so I say that should count as 2.
A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 3 pts · 19h
I assumed guy was non-gendered here
anon6789@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 19h
I assumed I should never assume! 😄
It was interesting to read about that one has to wait a bit to tell them apart either way.
anon6789@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 21h
Double the love! 🥰 🥰
Blurntout@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 16h
I wanna watch em eat a strawberry 😱
anon6789@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 16h
Might be out of luck there. I only saw the one in our care eat fishy, seafoody things and some googling says they are almost strictly carnivorous, and many seem to suspect what little vegetation ends up in their belly is probably just coincidental.
anon6789@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 23h
JasonDJ@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 19h
Wait turtles have belly buttons?
anon6789@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 18h
I'm not sure if it's technically considered a belly button, but they have a bit of yolk sac left to provide the first few days' nutrition for them. Then it dries up, falls off, and leaves a scar that will eventually disappear.
nocturne@slrpnk.net · 18 pts · 22h
A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 6 pts · 20h
wut! How come there's a suitable b/w movie screenshot for this?
anon6789@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 19h
It's from The Addams Family.
nocturne@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 17h
The Addams Family Goes To School, S01E01 to be exact. I just posted a discussion thread for the episode on Wednesday. https://piefed.social/c/television@piefed.social/p/2389880/the-addams-family-goes-to-school-the-addams-family-1964-s01e01
anon6789@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 17h
How timely! I'm sure I've seen it, as when I looked it up I saw it was a standard prop for the living room, but I never would have recalled that on my own. May that be a good omen!
anon6789@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 21h
A more perfect image than I could have ever imagined!
zaphod@sopuli.xyz · 13 pts · 22h
Having two heads is better than one, trust me, I know what I'm speaking about.
samus12345@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 14h
Pat_Riot@lemmy.today · 12 pts · 20h
Name him Zaphod!
zaph@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 20h
I second this
zaphod@sopuli.xyz · 5 pts · 14h
My name is zaphod and I approve.
nocturne@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 17h
I would vote for this zaphod for galactic president.
zaphod@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 14h
Thank you.
Varesti@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 23h
Until...
anon6789@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 23h
No being morbid around the babies! 😮
samus12345@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 14h
Broadfern@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 22h
Two-for-one deal on cuties! Hoping all turns out well for them 💚🐢
anon6789@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 21h
A few people in the comments talked about doubled-up animals they had seen in various places, and while not as successful maybe as more typical animals, they still got to live decent lives for the years they did have.
We had a beautiful Diamondback Terrapin all season this year and she was a real pleasure to have around, so I hope this one has a nice long life!