A two-headed reptile from the Cretaceous of China.
A malformed embryonic or neonate choristoderan reptile from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of northeastern China is described. The tiny skeleton exhibits two heads and two necks, with bifurcation at the level of the pectoral girdle. In a fossil, this is the first occurrence of the malformation known as axial bifurcation, which is well known in living reptiles.
Buffetaut
Eric
E
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (UMR 8538), 16 cour du Liggat, 75013 Paris, France. eric.buffetaut@wanadoo.fr
Li
Jianjun
J
Tong
Haiyan
H
Zhang
He
H
D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D005580:Fossils; D006257:Head / Q000002:abnormalities; D009333:Neck / Q000002:abnormalities; D012104:Reptiles / Q000002:abnormalities*