Greek tortoises usually live more than 100 years. Some of them suffer from a series of genetic problems and are born with two heads, but in that case their life expectancy is abruptly shortened. Normally, these curious animals do not manage to live more than a couple of years.

This turtle weighs little more than one kilogram.

They have great difficulty moving and cannot protect themselves as effectively as turtles usually do by hiding their heads in their shells. However, Janus has arrived to make history. It is a tortoise that was born in the Natural History Museum of Geneva, Switzerland.

Janus owes its name to the Roman god Janus, represented with two heads.

At the beginning, specialists warned about the short life expectancy of a turtle like Janus; but the cute little animal has done nothing but defy the worst predictions and leave everyone speechless. In a couple of weeks he will be 23 years old.

Janus was born on September 3, 1997.

There are no precise records about it, but many are sure that this is the record for a Greek tortoise with two heads. At the museum, the tortoise has a lot of attention and they monitor his health condition constantly to make sure he never lacks for anything.

“He has led a long life with a strict routine: daily baths, sunbathing sessions, a diet based on lettuce and tomatoes. He does not have an active sex life,” said a museum spokesman.

In Roman mythology, the god Janus had two heads: one to see into the past and one to see into the future. Switzerland’s friendly tortoise has fewer responsibilities and simply cares about his sunbathing and well-deserved snacks with a little extra lettuce.

Janus was born from an egg that was in an incubator.

For years she lived in a terrarium designed especially for her. However, she has grown quite a bit so they are building a new place that better suits her needs.

Each Janus head has a separate brain, but it seems that the right one is more dominant.

Everyone became so attached to Janus that they decided to make him the official mascot of the museum. Many people come there for the sole purpose of meeting her. After all, this is a very curious animal that has managed to make history.

Did you know that an animal as special as Janus existed? Share this curious news to celebrate how far this turtle has come.