Names: Two-Headed Turtle, Gator Turtle

Habitat: Monongahela River

Size: tails are 15 - 20 feet long (about half body length); up to 600 lbs

Diet: carnivorous

Reproduction: parthenogenesis or sexual reproduction

Society: solitary

Lifespan: up to 60 years

In the depths of the Monongahela River, there lurks a two-headed turtle the size of a bear and with the skin of an alligator. Though only one of many dangers that reside in these waters, the Ogua is the main reason early human inhabitants avoided wading in and crossing its banks.

The fearsome Ogua existed long before humanity set foot on North American shores; but, it was first recorded in literature by early European settlers in the 18th century. In the first account, a man claimed to have seen the creature hunting along the river; a plan in mind, he led a group of men to ambush the giant, 444 lb turtle－where they killed it with wooden clubs.

Subsequently, in the mid-18 th century, a family living on the riverside saw an enormous reptile surface one night and pluck their 12-year-old boy from the shore; he disappeared in seconds. As soon as they saw the beast, they scoured the waters and called for their son, but he was never found. Several days later, the family was awakened to the sound of rough hide rubbing against their cabin－ a dry scratching sound; confused, one of the children peeked outside the window and saw an enormous, two-headed turtle in the yard. Crying, the child woke her parents and told them what she’d seen. They set out for a new home the next day. Before colonization, Oguas used to dominate Appalachian and other, surrounding waterways. Once settlers moved inland, dangerous creatures like the two-headed turtle were exterminated to make areas inhabitable. Paired with the reptile’s low birth rate, their populations dramatically declined, leaving them a rarity remembered as a legend. Today, giant skeletons of the beasts are being uncovered in Paw Paw Creek and the Monongahela.

Noteworthy Anatomy Oguas are muscular reptiles with a ridged, boney carapace that appears to be segmented into 9 - 12 pieces; the upper shell changes as the turtle ages, becoming smoother and shinier, in addition to increasing slightly in length. On their tails, craggy, protrusions made of bone line the center, connecting to the tailbone; like a studded club, the tail acts as a deadly weapon. For measurements, the beasts have tails 15 - 20 ft long (about half their body length) and can weigh up to 600 lbs. Similar to the Common Snapping Turtle, Oguas have very flexible necks; their neck can extend up to 5 feet, giving it a long reach and serpentine appearance. Their hide’s texture is similar to that of an alligator’s: it has larger cell blocks along the neck and belly that taper into smaller cell blocks over the rest of the body, creating a bumpy surface; hard, round burls encircle the neck in a two-ring pattern, speckling the legs and tail as well. Skin colors range from mottled variations of deep reddish-brown, dark muddy, greens, and walnut hues; shell color mirrors skin tone. Oguan eyes are gold or navy with brown flecks. Though their feet are tipped with long claws, the turtle’s short, stubby legs are not built to attack or swipe with; instead, the appendages are used to dig dens or grip the riverbed, webbing between the toes permitting quick swimming. Their serrated teeth are not used to chew or tear meat (they swallow prey whole), but to deliver deadly blows to larger prey, like deer, with their mighty jaws. If a meal is particularly strong or burdensome, the reptile will drown it at the river bottom, or from its den. Additionally, they can respire both in water and on land, allowing them to effectively hunt in either terrain.

Most interestingly, Oguas are hermaphroditic － with reproductive organs splitting the lower half of the turtle into two distinct parts (female on the left, male on the right); aside from having two, individual brains and esophagus, the Ogua shares all other internal organs and acts as one coherent being. Daily Life and Socialization Meetings between Oguas are few and far between; if an Ogua’s territory is encroached upon by another Ogua, the creatures size each other up－the smaller of the two acquiescing and going around the turtle’s claim. Regardless of the circumstances of their meeting, when two Oguas do cross paths, mating occurs. Unlike other animal species, no mating rituals take place, nor is the event violent; after copulating, the beasts go their separate ways, likely to never see each other again. An Ogua’s eggs hatch in 24 or more months, depending on water temperatures. Oguas lay 10 - 12 large, rough, pale blue eggs once every two years, regardless of fertilization. The turtle lays the clutch in its den, covering the eggs with soil, gravel, and debris, leaving only half an inch exposed. Next, the animal blocks most of the den’s entrance with stones, soil, and detritus, scraping backward with its back legs and claws. Once satisfied, the Ogua leaves the den and searches for a new location to nest, never returning. A recent residence can be denoted by fresh claw marks and prints, semi-complete skeletons found in waste, half-eaten remains, and, on the banks, deep, messy ruts leading in and out of the water. During the day, Oguas lay in their dens to rest until dusk. As the sun falls below the horizon, the turtle hunts, pulling animals under the water or striking prey with powerful, whip-like tails. They feast on the riverbanks or riverbeds until dawn. Before winter arrives, Oguas expand their dens, digging tight tunnels and filling them with debris and spare food; during winter, the creature goes into brumation — ceasing to defecate or digest, slowing respiration, and allowing their body temperature to drop. The burrow keeps the turtle safe and insulated until the spring. Once temperatures rise, Oguan eggs hatch; if the temperature of the water during incubation was too warm, most of the younglings die before breaking out of their shell. The Oguas that do manage to hatch consume their deceased siblings. After gaining some nourishment, the youths float downstream, consuming anything they can get their mouth around; however, these hatchlings are often eaten by larger predators or inadvertently killed by human/animal activity (their shells harden as they age, starting off soft and fragile). Maturity is not reached with age, necessarily, but size; once an Ogua’s carapace grows to 10 ft in size, they are considered an adult. Today, sightings of the Ogua are infrequent and limited to the Monongahela River and other nearby waterways. It has been known to tip over small boats with its large body, or via the harsh waves it generates as it swims by; people and animals swimming near a moving, giant turtle are at risk of drowning, for its massive size churns the water, sucking objects into its path. The creature, though difficult to see in the murky waters, can sometimes be spotted at a distance by its tail thrashing above and below the surface, speeding along as it swings around, changing direction.