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.
