Rare two headed adder caught on camera

Rare two headed adder caught on camera
27 September 2013 Last updated at 03:4

A two headed adder has been caught on camera by Gordon Crook in North Yorkshire, UK. Mr Crook was alerted to the snake while walking with a local ramblers group. "At first I though it might be a reflection or a double exposure. Downloaded it onto the computer and it was very evident that it had two heads!" he said. John Wilkinson, Science Programme Manager at the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, was surprised to see the photo of the adult animal which he described as a female conjoined twin. He explained that during development the embryo began to split but stopped and it is rare for the animal to have survived beyond hatching. Fellow expert and member of The British Herpetological Society Dr John Baker agreed "This is very unusual and is a very rare find. I don't know of any two headed adder records in the UK.”

For details - http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/24289923