“It’s strange to see this deformed snake. It’s immature, only about 0.3 m long. It’s interesting to watch it move. Sometimes, the two heads try to go in opposite directions. Other times, One end leans on the other. That seems to be the most efficient way to move,” Evans wrote when posting a photo of the animal on Facebook on June 28.

Sometimes, animals are born with two or more heads on the same body (called polycephaly), which is more common in reptiles than in mammals. This condition may be caused by the embryo not completing the division process. Another cause is that two separate embryos do not fuse together completely.

According to a 2013 study in the journal Comparative Pathology, out of 4,087 baby pit vipers, only 3 were born with two heads. The world has recorded cases of two-headed snakes being born in captivity and sometimes in the wild, but it is very rare.

Animals with polycephaly usually do not live long, depending on the degree of separation. Two heads with two different stomachs are often more likely to compete for food and starve to death than with only one stomach. However, one organ working for two bodies will subject the animal to excessive stress, which can reduce lifespan.

Evans said the southern brown egg-eating snake is now safe and receiving professional care. He was surprised that it could survive until it was found by its homeowner in Durban.

“There is no benefit in releasing two-headed snakes. As far as I know, they usually do not live long. This animal would not be able to live long in the wild. It can barely move, and when it moves, it is extremely slow . It’s easy to be caught by predators,” he explained.