2 headed snake named Mary-Kate and Ashley

diabolique · 10-17-03, 10:58 AM

Boy finds two-headed snake

Friday, October 17, 2003 Posted: 10:17 AM EDT (1417 GMT)

Hunter York, 10, holds a two-headed snake Sunday at his father's home in Centertown.

CENTERTOWN, Kentucky (AP) -- Hunter York was afraid of snakes, but he couldn't resist the two-headed reptile he found.

The 10-year-old said he picked up the black king snake with a stick, then noticed it grabbed the stick with two heads.

"I ran in the house and said, 'Dad, this snake has two heads.' And he said, 'What?"' Hunter said. It "kind of freaked me out a little bit."

The 81/2-inch female reptile hasn't eaten since Hunter found it October 4.

Hunter's father, Rodney York, loaned the snake Tuesday to snake hobbyist Scott Petty to see whether he could induce it to eat.

"We couldn't force-feed it, because we don't know which head eats," York said.

York said he jokingly named the snake Mary-Kate and Ashley, after the teenage TV and movie stars, the Olsen twins.

York says he's considering a brief stint in show business for the snake once he learns more about it.

"If they're that rare, I'm going to hit up [talk-show hosts David] Letterman, [Jay] Leno and everybody I can think of," he said. "I'm going to milk it for all it's worth."

Ed Zimmerer, a Murray State University biology professor and herpetologist, estimated the occurrence of a two-headed snake at 1 in 10,000. "They usually don't live too long," he said.

The snake might be unable to determine which is the dominant head or have some internal problems that interfere with eating, Zimmerer said.

here is the link:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science....ap/index.html

Kathy · 10-17-03, 11:19 AM

Thats really neat! Thanks for sharing the article

CDN-Cresties · 10-17-03, 11:22 AM

Thats the funniest name ever!!!

-Steve-

lilyskip · 10-17-03, 11:32 AM

weird! i know if i was a kid, i'd never pick up a two-headed snake. hehe.

gonesnakee · 10-17-03, 02:31 PM

For all you doubleheader fans. Here's a pic my of my snake "Dually". She is a Lavender phase Cal-King that hatched out at my house this year. Thought I'd share it again. Mark I.
<img src="http://members.shaw.ca/gonesnakee/DUALLY.JPG"width="600">

>( >( >( >( >( >( >( >( >( >( >(

Simon · 10-17-03, 02:45 PM

nice photos~
weird looking heads there~

emroul · 10-17-03, 02:58 PM

Whoa, that crazy, gonesnakee! Is that cali king healthy (excluding the whole two-headed thing she's got goin' on)? How does she eat? I've always wondered that, from both heads, or just one? Sorry, I'm alittle enthralled...

Jennifer

Bartman · 10-17-03, 02:59 PM

WICKED..ive seen the two headed turtle on croc hunter and imo thats the cooooolest pet ever! Nice pic gonesnakee

RachelS. · 10-17-03, 04:00 PM

dude that's awesome! you can also go to www.texasreptiles.com and click on "freaks of nature" to find some awesome looking herps and other cool animals

Lisa · 10-17-03, 06:15 PM

Nice to see a decent write up in a mainstream news source.

SerpentLust · 10-17-03, 06:20 PM

That's awesome, I would love a two headed snake. Although I imagine most don't survive as the article pointed out. But still, it would be amazing.

Jenn

Brock · 10-17-03, 06:37 PM

What I really want is a two headed turtle or tortoise, now THOSE are f'ing sweet.

-Brock

CDN-Cresties · 10-17-03, 06:38 PM

"Dually" another great name!!!

-Steve-

Clownfishie · 10-17-03, 06:55 PM

How's Dually doing for you Mark? I remember when she hatched!

gonesnakee · 10-17-03, 07:36 PM

"Dually" still has not officially ate yet folks. She stopped pooping a couple weeks back so she is probably due. She has been offered plenty, but can't/won't eat on her own. I'm going to try & feed her a mouse tail here soon. I haven't been too worried as she is still looking healthy & strong & still has a clutchmate that has not eaten yet either. I'll probably start a new thread once I try to assist feed. Mark I.