14 DAY TRIAL // Every once in a while, Mother Nature decides to remind us about how amazing it is. This time, it chose to bedazzle us by rolling out a two-headed turtle.
The turtle hatched at the San Antonio Zoo on June 18, and made its first public appearance on June 25.
Keepers explain that the bicephalic animal is actually two twin turtles that failed to separate before emerging from inside their egg. Bicephalic animals are extremely rare, but not unheard of.
Interestingly enough, it sometimes happens that more than two embryos get glued to each other in this manner. The result is that creatures sporting three or more heads are born.
The turtle was named Thelma and Louise by the staff at the San Antonio Zoo. They are perfectly healthy and don't seem to mind that they can't break away from each other.
“At this time, Thelma and Louise are doing well on exhibit and eating with both heads,” curator of reptiles Craig Pelke said in a statement.