San Antonio Zoo's two-headed turtle dies

Thelma and Louise, a two-headed fresh water turtle, is part of the Texas River Cooter family.

Thelma and Louise, a two-headed fresh water turtle, is part of the Texas River Cooter family. Photo: Courtesy Of The San Antonio Zoo Photo: Courtesy Of The San Antonio Zoo Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close San Antonio Zoo's two-headed turtle dies 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO -- Thelma and Louise, the two-headed fresh-water river turtle that lived at the San Antonio Zoo, died Tuesday morning, zoo officials confirmed.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Thelma and Louise, the San Antonio Zoo's two-headed turtle," the zoo said in a release. "The San Antonio Zoo will truly miss this tiny, yet giant, turtle conservation embassador."

The turtle had polycephaly, in which animals have more than one head for one body. The zoo had previously said that polycephaly can occur in any species, but it is most commonly found in snakes and turtles. The two heads shared one body as a result of the embryo failing to separate during the twinning process.

Thelma, the right head, and Louise, the left head, received international media attention when they were born in 2013.

"Thelma and Louise created excitement around the world as far away as Moscow, Russia, and Australia," the zoo said. "Thelma and Louise's popularity spurred her own Facebook page, with nearly 8,500 'likes.'"

The sisters, Texas river cooters, celebrated their first birthday on June 18. The zoo said that they lived as normal a life as possible, including "swimming in her enclosure, an ample varied diet, and a good basking spot."

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