Two-headed diamondback terrapin hatchling rescued at Cape Cod nesting site
Volunteers at a protected nesting area in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, discovered a bicephalic diamondback terrapin hatchling weighing about 5.2 grams, which has been taken to a wildlife rehab center for care.
In the course of Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary's yearly terrapin nesting program, volunteers uncovered a two-headed diamondback terrapin hatchling that weighs roughly the same as a nickel. The 5.2-gram turtle was moved to the Cape Wildlife Center on September 17, 2026, where a licensed veterinary team is observing its appetite, growth and overall health. Bicephaly, the developmental anomaly responsible for the twin heads, is extremely uncommon and the hatchling's internal organ layout has yet to be determined.
Veterinarians intend to employ X-rays and CT scans as the animal matures to better understand its physiology. This discovery adds to the few similar cases recorded over the sanctuary's nearly five-decade history and underscores the importance of volunteer-driven protection for the threatened species in the region.
