#turtles

#turtles

San Diego Zoo Welcomes 41 Indian Narrow-headed Softshell TurtlesFor over two decades, staff at the San Diego Zoo have been hoping that the three Indian narrow-headed softshell turtles in their guardianship to one day reproduce. Recently, that hope came true — the rare turtles finally bred, and San Diego Zoo became "the first accredited organization in North America to hatch and raise the species."Over the summer, the zoo welcomed 41 hatchlings. Most of the eggs were stored in an artificial incubator designed for the survival of the hatchlings, while some eggs hatched successfully in the turtles' habitat.Kim Gray, the zoo's curator of herpetology and ichthyology, states that this event is "an incredible step forward" in the conservation efforts for these turtles.The Indian narrow-headed softshell turtles are native to South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, and Nepal, and the turtle is listed as an endangered species. There are multiple factors that threaten their survival, such as climate change, damming of rivers, increased flooding, and gravel mining.(Image Credit: Ana Ramirez/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)#Conservation #Animals #EndangeredSpecies #ConservationBreeding #Turtles

This Diamondback Terrapin Has Two Heads and Six LegsThis diamondback terrapin hatchling from the Barnstable department of natural resources has two heads, a condition called bicephaly. This rare anomaly can arise from the influence of both genetic and environmental factors in the terrapin's embryonic development. Animals who have this condition rarely survive. If they do, they don't have a good quality of life. However, these hatchlings are different. After being assessed in the hospital for over two weeks, the turtles were growing well. They have shared body parts and independent body parts similar to conjoined twins in humans. X-rays revealed two spines that fused while the Barium study revealed separate gastrointestinal tracts. This terrapin has six legs, but each of them has control on three legs. When placed on a deepwater swim test, they can coordinate and swim together. This twin turtle proved that teamwork is essential for survival.Image: Cape Wildlife Center via Facebook#Turtles #TwinAnimals #TeamWork