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Double-Header Turtle Found in Massachusetts
Credit: Unsplash
Since the dawn of human knowledge about physical abnormalities, an unmistakable indication of an anomaly in nature is when a being is born with two heads. Apart from the abominable creatures of the deep sea, creatures are typically designed to have only one head. Nevertheless, nature occasionally surprises us, as seen with a turtle boasting a double-headed feature.
In the district of West Barnstable, Massachusetts, wildlife scholars stumbled upon a nest of diamondback terrapin turtles in a potentially dangerous zone and deemed it necessary to relocate the inhabitants to a safer area. Upon inspecting the nest, they didn’t find just one or two turtles; instead, they discovered a turtle-and-a-half. This peculiar turtle possesses two heads and a total of six legs, with each head overseeing three legs. The turtle isn’t a solitary entity but resembles a pair of conjoined twins; each head acts as an independent, thinking, breathing, and feeding organism.
The veterinary team at New England Wildlife Centers is tending to a unique two-headed turtle.
Discovered in a secure nesting ground in Barnstable, this adorable diamondback terrapin hatchling has two heads and three legs on each side. ? https://t.co/jqMhssHSie
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) October 12, 2021
The turtle was transferred to the Birdsey Cape Wildlife Center for safeguarding and examination, where its heads were playfully named “Mary-Kate and Ashley.” Despite their condition, the twins appear to be in good shape, relishing a diet of worms as they grow to a healthy size. The staff at the center were astonished by the twins’ mobility; despite independently controlling their legs, the twins can swim proficiently and surface for air on their own. Regrettably, it remains uncertain if and when the twins can be safely reintroduced into their natural habitat, but the caretakers are committed to looking after them for as long as necessary.
