Two-headed viper found in Denmark

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AI Thread Summary
A two-headed viper was discovered in Denmark, sparking interest in the rarity and occurrence of such mutations in snakes. Participants in the discussion noted that while two-headed snakes are often perceived as common, they are actually rare due to their high mortality rates before reaching reproductive age. The conversation also touched on the concept of polydactylism in cats, which is a genetic trait that can be passed down through generations, contrasting it with the non-inheritable nature of two-headedness in snakes. The mention of sailors believing in the good luck associated with two-headed snakes added a historical perspective to the discussion.
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Snake!
 


Evo said:
Snake!

Badgers badgers badgers badgers badgers badgers badgers badgers
 


Evo said:
Snake!
What? No mushroom? I reserve the right to dance haka.
 


I wonder why two-headed snakes are so common?
 


lisab said:
I wonder why two-headed snakes are so common?

Same reason polydactic cats are common.
 


DaveC426913 said:
Same reason polydactic cats are common.

Because sailors believed they brought good luck?

:-p
 


lisab said:
Because sailors believed they brought good luck?

:-p
Old-time sailors would keep ferrets. Even if the ferrets were unable to chase down and kill all the rats, they were able to infiltrated all the cargo, and drive the rats out in the open, where hopefully the cats could kill them. There was an old pulp mill on the Sebasticook river that kept ferrets. The ferrets did the dirty work, and cats and rat terriers took care of the clean-up.
 


lisab said:
I wonder why two-headed snakes are so common?
Actually, they are very rare...
 
  • #10


lisab said:
Because sailors believed they brought good luck?

:-p

:biggrin:

Right.

I meant because they are common mutations.

I suppose it's not quite the same. Polydactylism in cats would be passed from generation to generation. I suspect that two-headedness in snakes is not a likewise inherited trait since I imagine it has a dramatic impact on mortality before the snake can breed.
 
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