This Terrapin's Sibling Will Always be by Its Side

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.

128 points · 30 comments · view on lemmy.world

30 Comments

anon6789@lemmy.world · 29 pts · 23h (8 replies)

Blurntout@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 21h (7 replies)

Cutest smol guy

A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 6 pts · 20h (3 replies)

1 guy or 2 guys, that is the question!

anon6789@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 19h (2 replies)

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 (1 reply)

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 (2 replies)

Double the love! 🥰 🥰

Blurntout@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 16h (1 reply)

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.

Diamondback terrapins are almost strictly carnivorous but sometimes ingest small amounts of plant material. They possess strong jaws and crushing plates in their mouths that enable them to eat hard-shelled prey, including aquatic snails, crabs and small bivalves, such as mussels and clams. They also eat carrion, fish, worms and insects. (National Aquarium)

As carnivores most Diamondback Terrapins will readily accept any number of commercial turtle diets. We suggest a mixture of three or four different high-quality types. Fish, frozen crayfish or shrimp, and earthworms should add to the variety. Freeze-dried krill or brine shrimp can also provide a great treat for these turtles. (The Turtle Source)

anon6789@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 23h (2 replies)

JasonDJ@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 19h (1 reply)

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 (5 replies)

A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 6 pts · 20h (3 replies)

wut! How come there's a suitable b/w movie screenshot for this?

anon6789@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 19h (2 replies)

It's from The Addams Family.

nocturne@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 17h (1 reply)

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 (1 reply)

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 (4 replies)

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 (1 reply)

I would vote for this zaphod for galactic president.

zaphod@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 14h

Thank you.

Varesti@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 23h (2 replies)

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 (1 reply)

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!