Biologists remove dead conjoined twin from endangered turtle

[spaminator]

Biologists remove dead conjoined twin from endangered turtle
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Thursday, August 18, 2016 02:56 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, August 18, 2016 08:11 PM EDT
ROME — Marine biologists in southern Italy have separated conjoined twin loggerhead turtles and released the surviving newborn into the Mediterranean Sea.
The release occurred this week along the beaches of Campania where the endangered loggerheads come to nest every year.
Fulvio Maffucci, marine biologist at Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, said Wednesday there had been only seven known births of conjoined twin loggerheads in the Mediterranean. He said the fact that one survived was “extraordinary.” The smaller twin was dead and significantly underdeveloped compared to the larger twin.
Maffucci said: “After the removal of the dead brother from his chest, he crawled from the nest and he’s been released in the wild without any help.”
In addition to the twins, one of the hatchlings this year also included a rare albino loggerhead.
Biologists remove dead conjoined twin from endangered turtle | World | News | To

 

[Curious Cdn]

I am puzzled by this story, seeing as turtles lay eggs in the sand.

 

[Danbones]

Never heard of a double yolker?
I guess some people don't get out much

"Loggerheads are the most common turtle in the Mediterranean, nesting on beaches from Greece and Turkey to Israel and Libya. However, many of their nesting beaches are under threat from tourism development."
Loggerhead turtle | WWF

and maybe radiation

 

[Curious Cdn]

Yeah, I guess. I'm surprised thst it was viable.

 

[Danbones]

We used to get them as chicken eggs all the time but modern farming processes and drugs and sorting probably weeds them out these days

Ps eta
should have added the info that they lay eggs in the citation to my above post