A rare two-headed diamondback terrapin weighing just 5.2 grams was discovered by volunteers at a protected nesting site in Orleans, Massachusetts, according to the Cape Wildlife Center. Staff at the facility report that the hatchling, which suffers from a developmental condition known as bicephaly, is actively eating and being monitored by veterinary teams.
Volunteers Find Two-Headed Hatchling on Cape Cod
Researchers from the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary discovered the runty reptile during annual conservation work. Volunteers spend the nesting season locating terrapin nests and protecting eggs from predators like foxes, raccoons, and skunks. The diamondback terrapin is listed as a threatened species in Massachusetts due to habitat loss, coastal development, and roadway dangers.
Eamon Caffrey, turtle research coordinator at the sanctuary, stated that the newest celebrity terrapin emerged from a nest that hatched on September 14. Caffrey noted that most hatchlings had already left when researchers found several eggs still remaining, one of which contained the unusual reptile. Mass Audubon has documented about five two-headed terrapins on Cape Cod since the early 2000s, with Caffrey encountering two during his four years at the sanctuary.
Veterinary Care and Bicephaly in Terrapins
The hatchling arrived at the Birdsey Cape Wildlife Center in Barnstable on September 17, weighing roughly the same as a nickel. Zak Mertz, CEO of the New England Wildlife Centers, estimated the odds of bicephaly occurring at about one in 100,000 hatchlings. Despite the odds, the Cape Wildlife Center is now caring for its third two-headed reptile in six years.
“The left head has the bigger personality,” Mertz said. Robyn Rohm, lead technician, added that the left head was biting the day the animal arrived in the lab. Veterinarians are currently watching the turtle’s appetite, growth, and behavior while waiting for it to grow large enough for advanced diagnostic imaging like X-rays and CT scans to determine internal anatomy.
Common Questions About the Two-Headed Terrapin
What is bicephaly?
Bicephaly is a rare developmental abnormality where an embryo forms two heads instead of separating completely into two separate individuals. Experts estimate it occurs in roughly one out of every 100,000 hatchlings.
How many two-headed turtles has the center treated?
The Birdsey Cape Wildlife Center in Barnstable is currently caring for its third two-headed reptile in six years, according to CEO Zak Mertz.
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Can the turtle’s gender be determined yet?
No, the approximately quarter-sized hatchling is still too young and small for its gender to be determined.
What are the next steps for the hatchling?
Veterinarians are monitoring the turtle’s daily behavior, feeding habits, and growth. Once the terrapin grows larger, staff plan to utilize diagnostic imaging to understand how its internal organs and digestive tract are shared between the two heads.
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