By Olivia Miwil
olivia@nst.com.my
Picture courtesy of Sabah Parks
SANDAKAN: A rare case of a two-headed green turtle hatchling, a condition known as bicephaly, has been recorded at Pulau Bakkungan Kecil here during a routine nest excavation earlier this month.
The hatchling, from the species Chelonia mydas (green turtle), was discovered on Jan 17 , during monitoring work conducted by Sabah Parks marine conservation officers.
On Sabah Parks Facebook post, it stated that the hatchling was found alive but weak and still partially buried in the nest.
Measurements showed the hatchling had a body length of eight centimetres from carapace to tail, while its carapace size measured 5.3 by 4.0 cm.
"Bicephaly occurs due to incomplete division of the embryo and is considered extremely rare. Such hatchlings are generally unable to survive for long in natural conditions.
"As a result, the two-headed hatchling was not released into the sea and was instead placed under temporary care for rehabilitation and observation.
"However, it died the following day on Jan 18, 2026."
The specimen has since been preserved for research and future reference purposes, contributing to scientific understanding of rare developmental anomalies in marine turtles.
The nest, registered as No. 3790/25, contained a total of 81 eggs, of which 50 successfully hatched.
The eggs were laid on Nov 15 last year and the hatching process occurred on Jan 11, 2026, before the excavation was carried out six days later.
Ends
Tags: Sabah, Sandakan, hatchling, two-headed, bicephaly, green turtle, conservation, animal, wildlife
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