2 headed snake

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RPlank

Um, folks, morphs are freaks of nature, too, ya know! Morphs are genetic abnormalities, just like a two headed snake is! Why would it be ok for us to value more highly a snake with a pattern or color abnormality than a viable snake with an extra head? If it lived, and could function "normally," why not?

---

Because the fact is that most of the 2-headed animals out there don't live very long because of other complications with their health......sometimes they are born with different internal organs or things aren't in the right place. Its not the same with morphs.....all that is different about a morph is the color of the scales.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DavidBeard

Because the fact is that most of the 2-headed animals out there don't live very long because of other complications with their health......sometimes they are born with different internal organs or things aren't in the right place. Its not the same with morphs.....all that is different about a morph is the color of the scales.

---

Actually, that isn't necessarily true. There are morphs in various reptile species that result in the animals being unable to breed, unable to see, unable to metabolize properly, etc. In some cases it may be a result of line-breeding or inbreeding for a specific trait and unintentionally perpetuating or reproducing another, but in other cases the morph itself is directly tied to the problem with the animal, such as when an enzyme is required for a particular color as well for hormone production.

Yeah, you're right Marla....I should'nt have been so general in my statement above....one example I can think of is Leucistic Texas Rats.....amelanistic BCI also have problems sometimes as well.

No harm, no foul. Just tryin' to set the record straight. ;)

Quote:

---

Um, folks, morphs are freaks of nature, too, ya know! Morphs are genetic abnormalities, just like a two headed snake is! Why would it be ok for us to value more highly a snake with a pattern or color abnormality than a viable snake with an extra head? If it lived, and could function "normally," why not?

---

Beautifully put.
The sad deal on the two headed snakes, is that people sell them like they are a big huge deal. To me they are not. It can happen in every creature, like albinoism. Sadly, many people who have such animals don't report it. And their are many herpatologists that are studying this exact thing. But it's hard to get facts on such animals when they are folklore (2 headed stories dating back years). And yes. The two headed snakes that I have seen have fought over one prey item. The turtle I saw would nip at the twin head during feeding also. Just thought I would throw in my imput.
Thanks
Rusty

I have always been told that if a snake has two heads they will die after a short time because they can't choose one which head is going to eat. That just what I have been heard and been told.

i thought that 2 headedness was from a fertilized egg that doesnt completely split to form twins and just becomes conjoined twins.