A rare two- headed snake has been discovered in northern Virginia, USA. It has been identified as the Eastern Copperhead. The person who found the snake contacted the Virginia Herpetological Society for identification, post which a herpetologist picked it up to study.
The rare snake was taken to the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro for radiographs for the officials to determine the functioning of both the heads attached to the body.
“It appears as though the left head is more dominant – it’s generally more active and responsive to stimulus” the Wildlife Center of Virginia said in a statement, adding that the right head has the more developed throat for eating.
“Wild bicephalic snakes are exceptionally rare, because they just don’t live that long,” J.D. Kleopfer of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries posted on Facebook. “Too many challenges living day to day with two heads.”
Copperheads grow about 18-36 inches long, while this bicephalic snake is only young and about 6 inches, Mr Kleopfer told USA Today.
One person asked on the Virginia Wildlife Management and Control Facebook post, “which head makes the attack?” to which the control company replied: “Both”.
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While Vipers tend to attack insects, Copperheads aren’t known for being aggressive and Mr Kleopfer said the snake isn’t a danger to anyone.
According Mr Kleopfer, the snake will possibly be donated to a zoological facility, “with a little luck and care”, he said.
National Geographic explained that snakes like this one are not unlike Siamese twins.
“The point at which the embryo stops separating varies. Just as Siamese twins can be joined at the head, breast, or hip, so too can snakes be joined at varying places on their bodies.”