A TWO-HEADED GREEN SEA TURTLE (Chelonia mydas) HATCHLING ON SAMANDAG BEACH, TURKEY

Sönmez B., Sert M., Kayikci S., Bedirci O., Yalçın Özdilek Ş.

RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY, cilt.24, ss.158-162, 2017 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 24
  • Basım Tarihi: 2017
  • Dergi Adı: RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.158-162
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: dicephalism, anatomy, green turtle, morphology
  • Sivas Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

A two headed green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was found on Samandag Beach, Turkey in 2015 nesting season. The two heads were anatomically similar with independent reaction to external stimuli. The carapace scutes showed anomalies. Radiography was performed and the spinal column was seen to bifurcate in the area close to the caudal region. In the post mortem examination, esophagus, stomach, liver, lung, heart and trachea were duplicated. The two headed green turtle was subclassified as teratodidymus. Dicephalism rarely occurs in sea turtle and perhaps genetic factors may play a significant role for this two headed green sea turtle.