Brief
Two‑headed baby turtle rescued at Cape Cod nesting site
The hatchling, weighing about a nickel, is being closely monitored after the Mass Audubon sanctuary delivered it to the center.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A diamondback terrapin hatchling with bicephaly was discovered last month at a protected nesting site on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, according to the Cape Wildlife Center’s Facebook post.
What happened
The tiny turtle, described as weighing roughly as much as a nickel, was found by staff at the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and handed over to the Cape Wildlife Center for observation and care.
What the reports add
The outlet notes that bicephaly – two functional heads on one body – results from an incomplete split of a single embryo, a detail cited from Live Science. The center’s team said this is only the third such case they have seen in five years, making the find “especially rare.”
What was said
Zak Mertz, CEO of New England Wildlife Centers, which runs the Cape Wildlife Center, told the outlet that the condition offers a unique chance to study turtle anatomy and physiology. He added that both genetic and epigenetic factors likely play a role, and that the turtles’ long lifespan, site fidelity and limited gene pool may contribute.
How it came about
Earlier Felo coverage highlighted turtle conservation efforts, such as the rescue of olive‑ridley eggs ahead of Hurricane Polo (see article), underscoring the region’s focus on protecting vulnerable reptiles.
Key facts
- A two‑headed diamondback terrapin hatchling was found at a Cape Cod nesting site. (nypost.com)
- The hatchling weighs about as much as a nickel. (nypost.com)
- The turtle was delivered to the Cape Wildlife Center by the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. (nypost.com)
- Bicephaly is caused by incomplete embryo splitting, according to Live Science. (nypost.com)
- Zak Mertz said genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors may contribute to the condition. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “‘Especially rare’ two-headed baby turtle found in Cape Cod”
