"Really Has Two Heads"... Japanese Man Discovers 'Ssangdusa' on Hiking Trail

A snake with two heads on one body was discovered in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, drawing public attention.

On the 8th, Japanese media outlets such as RKB Mainichi News reported that on the 4th, a man found a two-headed snake on a mountain in Hachiman-nishi Ward, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka. The snake was about 20 cm long with brown spots and was already dead when found.

Twin-headed snake discovered in Kitakyushu area, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Photo by RKB Mainichi Broadcasting

The man who first discovered the snake in a corner of a concrete-paved hiking trail recalled, "The snake was not moving," and "When I approached, I saw it had two heads attached." After discussing with acquaintances, he contacted a local museum, and the reptile curator reportedly requested, "Please bring it in."

According to reptile experts, two-headed snakes are born with a very low probability, but most do not survive and die early. Since dead bodies are quickly eaten by wild animals, the chance of seeing a two-headed snake carcass in nature is extremely low. A python breeder in Fukuoka said, "About 10 years ago, a two-headed snake was born from breeding, but it died within 2 to 3 months." Generally, the average lifespan of snakes is 15 to 20 years.

The snake found this time is currently kept at the Inochi no Tabi Museum in Hachiman-nishi Ward. Analysis revealed that this snake was a species of pit viper native to Japan and was about 6 to 7 months old. In Japan, non-venomous snakes can be traded for 1 to 2 million yen (approximately 8.8 to 17.6 million KRW) depending on the species, but venomous snakes cannot be sold.

The museum announced plans to publicly exhibit the two-headed snake carcass this summer.

Meanwhile, two-headed snakes are mutations caused by genetic abnormalities and are known to be born with a probability of about 1 in 100,000. Two-headed snakes have two brains making separate decisions, sometimes competing for food and showing reduced mobility when moving. For these reasons, they rarely survive long in the wild, and mostly only young individuals measuring 15 to 20 cm are found.

In South Korea, a post confirming the capture of a two-headed snake in a mountain in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, in September 2016 went viral online. Previously, in November 2011, a 20 cm two-headed snake was found in Andong, Gyeongbuk, and in 2006, a two-headed snake was also discovered in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.