A rare two-headed diamondback terrapin hatchling was discovered on Cape Cod and brought to the Cape Wildlife Center by the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. The tiny turtle, weighing just 5.2 grams, was found at a protected nesting site in Wellfleet. The center shared photos of the hatchling on Facebook, highlighting its two distinct heads, a rare developmental condition known as bicephaly. This occurs when an embryo develops into conjoined twins that do not fully separate, according to National Geographic. While it is most commonly seen in turtles and snakes, bicephaly can also occur in other animals. This is only the second case of bicephaly the Cape Wildlife Center has encountered in the past five years. In 2021, a two-headed turtle, described as "McNugget-size," was found with six legs. Many two-headed animals face challenges surviving due to physical difficulties, such as competing for food or even attacking each other. However, reptiles tend to live longer than other animals with such conditions, according to National Geographic. The discovery of this two-headed diamondback terrapin is especially significant because the species is considered threatened in Massachusetts, making such rare occurrences even more noteworthy. The Cape Wildlife Center's veterinary team will closely monitor the hatchling as they study how its two heads and bodies function together. The team has experience handling unusual cases, including treating a screech owl found inside a Barnstable resident's bathroom in 2023, caring for a coyote pup in 2022, and performing foot surgery on a goose in 2021 while its mate remained nearby. These experiences highlight the center's dedication to wildlife care and conservation, even in the most unique and challenging circumstances.