A snake with two heads named Ben and Jerry was caught on film trying to eat two mice at once, making for an intriguing and entertaining video that has since gone viral. The footage was captured by reptile expert Brian Barczyk, who shared it with his fans on Instagram.
In the video, the brown and yellow snake can be seen slowly consuming the mice. However, some viewers were concerned that the snake might choke since it only has one digestive system. Barczyk addressed these concerns by explaining that while the two-headed snake can eat separately, it shares the same digestive system.
The snake’s condition is called bicephaly, which occurs due to the incomplete splitting of an embryo. Interestingly, Ben and Jerry are one of only approximately 10,000 snakes with this condition. Most snakes with this condition do not survive long, but Ben and Jerry appear to be an exception. Barczyk explained that once they survive to adulthood, which Ben and Jerry have, they usually live a full life. He expects the two-headed snake to live between 20 and 25 years.
Barczyk works at a reptile zoo in Michigan in the US, where he purchased Ben and Jerry from a friend. He also mentioned that the zoo has other one-of-a-kind animals, including a two-headed turtle, as well as several albino and other color mutations.
The video of Ben and Jerry attempting to eat two mice has sparked fascination among viewers worldwide, prompting some to ask how two-headed snakes come about. As Barczyk explained, the condition occurs due to an incomplete splitting of an embryo.
While most snakes with this condition do not survive long, Ben and Jerry appear to be doing well, sharing a digestive system but able to eat separately. As the video continues to spread online, the curiosity and fascination surrounding these unique creatures are sure to continue as well.
