A ball python with two heads has hatched at a breeding facility in Eugene, Oregon, in the United States, according to breeders Justin Stewart and Kari Jackson. The unusual reptile was reported by Jam Press.
The snake was born on August 19. Stewart said he first noticed two noses poking out of a single egg and initially thought the egg contained twins, before realizing it was one snake with two heads.
Stewart and Jackson said they have bred reptiles for five years but had never seen anything like it before.
Two heads, one body
Both heads can move independently, drink water, flick their tongues and respond to touch, the breeders said. They believe there is no indication that the snake is in any pain.
The hatchling is currently completing its first shed. It weighs about 70 grams and measures roughly 18 to 20 centimeters long. It has a small bulge where the two necks join inside its body, and the left head has a slightly crooked jaw. Stewart and Jackson have booked a veterinary appointment to have the snake scanned so they can study its unusual internal anatomy.
What causes two-headed animals
The condition, known as bicephaly or dicephaly, occurs when an embryo begins splitting into identical twins but fails to separate completely. This leaves the animal with two heads and two brains sharing one body, which can cause serious problems with movement, coordination and feeding. Animals with the condition often do not survive long.
Ball pythons are popular pets known for their docile temperament and tendency to curl into a ball when stressed, a trait that gives the species its name.
A similarly rare case was reported previously in the United States, where a two-headed gecko named Simon and Garfunkel hatched. Its owners said the gecko was doing well and that neither head dominated the other.
