Very rare (and lethal) two-headed snake found in India

A very rare two-headed Russell's viper was found in India: its bite is lethal, now it is in a specialized facility.

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

In India, in Maharashtra, it was a very rare two-headed snake 11 cm long was identified. Small but deadly! This is Russell's viper, spotted outside a residential building, which was immediately transported to a specialized facility:

“The snake is alive and kept in a safe environment. Due to the forest department protocol, we cannot reveal the snake's location at this time, ”facility staff said, while Indian Forest Service Officer Susanta Nanda announced the rescue on Twitter:

“Russell's two-headed viper was rescued in Maharashtra. Russell's viper is much more dangerous than most poisonous snakes because it hurts you even if you survive the initial bite. "

Double danger??
Two headed Russell’s Viper rescued in Maharashtra. Genetic abnormality and hence low survival rates in the wild.

The Russell’s Viper is far more dangerous than most poisonous snakes because it harms you even if you survive the initial bite. pic.twitter.com/ATwEFFjaGy

- Susanta Nanda IFS (ant susantananda3) August 8, 2020

Russell's viper, compared to other venomous snakes, is lethal even if it survives the initial bite, causing thousands of deaths every year, causing symptoms such as pain, vomiting, dizziness, kidney failure, decreased heart rate, drop in blood pressure . And in case of survival of the bite the consequences are serious and permanent, first of all it can cause hypopituitarism and consequent sterility.

But the viper found in India has a peculiarity that makes it very rare: has two heads. Two-headed animals are thus born from a genetic anomaly that is thought to be the same that characterizes Siamese twins. For this reason they are very vulnerable animals that tend to die before other snakes. And it is very difficult to see them in nature!

SOURCES: India Today