Remarkable Two-Headed Snake Defies One-in-a-Hundred-Million Odds, Surprising Scientists with 17 Years of Survival

In a remarkable twist of nature, a highly unusual two-headed snake, rapidly approaching its 17th year, has left its handlers and scientists astounded by defying all expectations of its survival.

This unique black rat snake, which essentially consists of two snakes sharing a single body, has grown to an impressive length of nearly six feet. What makes this creature even more astonishing is that it has outlived all of its counterparts in the wild. Discovered in a young boy’s yard in the small Mississippi town of Delta back in 2005, this “ae serpent” was subsequently taken to the Cape Girardeau National Nature Center.

The existence of a two-headed snake was already considered a one-in-a-100,000 rarity. To witness one reach such a ripe old age is a one-in-a-hundred-million wonder, as noted by snake expert Steve Allain, a council member of the British Herpetological Society. Allain also pointed out that there is knowledge of another two-headed snake that survived until it was 20, so while it is extremely unlikely, it is not impossible for them to live for an extended period.

The remarkable two-headed snake, found in a Missouri backyard in 2005, has defied all predictions and managed to survive into its seventeenth year.

The black rat snake, composed of two separate black rat snakes sharing a single slithering body, has grown to an impressive five feet in length, surpassing the life expectancy of its regular counterparts in the wild.

Handling and caring for such an unusual snake have posed unique challenges. Alex Holmes, a naturalist at the conservation center, described some of the difficulties they encountered in keeping the snake alive.

“A normal snake their size would be capable of eating full-sized mice with ease,” he explained. However, due to their conjoined spine, they can only swallow very small, young mice, which they feed thawed from frozen. When it comes to feeding, their two heads are quite competitive, so handlers cover one head at a time with a drinking cup and feed each head individually. They also wait for a period to ensure that the food has passed their junction to prevent a “traffic jam” in the esophagus. Despite sharing a stomach, both heads are fed to stimulate their natural instincts and provide mental enrichment.

In the wild, such a snake, technically two snakes sharing one body, might never have survived. “Most conjoined hatchlings would not survive,” said Alex. Their slower reaction to danger could make them an easy meal for hungry predators like hawks, skunks, or raccoons.

Even in captivity, the survival of such a rare creature is a rare occurrence, making this two-headed snake a true marvel of nature and a testament to the extraordinary adaptability of life in the face of adversity.