Nature & Environment

Two-headed porpoise caught in the North Sea

By T.K. Randall
June 15, 2017 ·  9 comments
Rather than a single animal with two heads, the find is actually likely to be two conjoined porpoises - a case of what is known as 'partial twinning' or parapagus dicephalus to give it its full scientific name.The condition is in fact so rare that this is actually only the tenth known case of conjoined twins in any species of cetacean ( a group of animals which include whales and dolphins ).

Two-headed porpoise caught in fishing net is first ever found https://t.co/LlMaDlXqVR pic.twitter.com/iCQ8D1p5U2

— New Scientist (@newscientist) June 14, 2017

"The anatomy of cetaceans is strikingly different from terrestrial mammals with adaptations for living in the sea as a mammal," said study co-author Erwin Kompanje. "Much is unknown. Adding any extra case to the known nine specimens brings more knowledge on this aspect."

Source: New Scientist | Comments (9)

Tags: Porpoise, Netherlands