A rare two-headed diamondback terrapin turtle is surviving well after hatching two weeks ago at the Birdsey Cape Wildlife Center in Massachusetts, US. The turtle has six legs and it is able to use all of them. It is also feeding well on blood worms and food pellets, said the Wildlife carers.
The two heads operate independently, coming up for air at different times, and inside its shell are two gastrointestinal systems to feed both sides of its body. The little one was discovered originally in West Barnstable and later moved to the Wildlife Centre, considering the hazardous conditions in the area.
Being a threatened species in the state, after hatching, turtles in these so-called “head start” nests are sent to different care centres to be monitored before their release in the spring, The Cape Cod Times reported.
Centre veterinarian Pria Patel and other staff will continue to monitor the turtle in the coming weeks. They’re hoping to perform a CT scan to learn more about its circulatory system.
Additional Reporting: www.npr.org