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SAN ANGELO, Texas


Angelo State University is getting an unusual addition to its collection of reptiles and amphibians: a two-headed rattlesnake.

Chris McAllister, a visiting professor of biology at Angelo State University in San Angelo, said he found the snake after turning over 400 to 500 rocks last month at a Christoval-area ranch, where he and students were scouring for interesting specimens.

While two-headed rat snakes and king snakes are relatively common, a two-headed rattler is not, McAllister said.

The tiny Western diamondback rattler, about as thick as an adult human finger, was less than a foot long and appeared to be a month old, he said. The heads were fused at the neck and functional, although the left head seemed to be the more dominant.

Both tongues flicked out of the mouths, and all four eyes were open, he said. Each head had a full set of fangs, but the snake didn't try to strike at him. In fact, it was lethargic and refused to eat so he euthanized it, he said.

McAllister discovered it had two hearts, two gall bladders, two tracheae and a divided liver.

"They're very important in controlling the rodent population," said McAllister, who was hospitalized for a week in 1996 after being bitten by a rattler. "They're an important part of the ecosystem."