Educational Programs and Presentions

RIDGE MANOR--Daniel Parker prefers to spend his time tromping through swamps and forests of Florida in search of creepy crawly critters. As a field biologist for University of Central Florida and a guide of wildlife tours for his company, Sunshine Serpents, he has seen many unusual creatures. However, none have been as strange as the snake that emerged from an egg in his living room. Not only was this a valuable albino Honduran milk snake; it had an exceptional feature: two heads.

Several months ago, the eggs were laid by a female Honduran milk snake that was albino. Albinos are missing all dark pigmentation in the skin. In milk snakes the albino trait makes their coloration appear as glow in the dark shades of red, orange, and white. Even albino individuals with merely one head are so striking in color that they usually attract attention. However, as Parker dug through the moss substrate in his incubation container to find his brightly colored hatchling snakes, the first thing he noticed was not the colors. The first baby he saw had two heads. “I did a double take,” said Parker. “I couldn’t believe what I was looking at.” Most of the two-headed snakes documented in the past have displayed the typical coloration seen in the species in the wild. For this snake to be both two-headed and albino was a double whammy. “This might be the most beautiful two-headed snake that has ever existed,” added Parker.

According to Parker two-headedness or “bicephalism,” as the condition is known by scientists, is extremely rare. Its occurrence may be around one in 10,000. Snakes may have a better survival rate than other bicephalic animals. “Two-headed snakes have been documented to live as long as 20 years in captivity,” says Parker. “With two different brains giving commands to one body, it must be a confusing existence. This snake certainly would not be able to survive in the wild.”

BROOKSVILLE—A few days before Halloween, a most unusual creature came into the world. Sunshine Serpents announced the hatching of a two-headed albino Honduran milk snake. This was one of the most beautiful and unusual animals that owner of Sunshine Serpents and University of Central Florida biologist Daniel Parker had ever seen. Now, just in time for Thanksgiving, the extraordinary snake has taken its first meal: a baby mouse.

As with most baby snakes, this two-headed snake fed after shedding its skin for the first time. After hatching, baby snakes usually have a good reserve of yolk to last them for a while. Honduran milk snakes usually shed their skins around two weeks after hatching and are ready to feed after that.

Two days after eating for the first time, the snake produced what one would expect as a result of the digestive process. According to Parker, this is a significant event because it suggests that the snake is functioning normally. “We were not sure exactly what was going on with this snake on the inside, but now we have a better idea,” said Parker.

The snake was offered a baby mouse, what herpetoculturists (those who raise and breed reptiles) usually call a “pinky.” The pinky was frozen and thawed before being offered. Many people wrongly believe that snakes will only take live food, but scent is the most important factor. If it smells like food, the snake will likely try to eat it, whether it is alive or not. Reptile keepers find frozen food to be a convenient alternative to live food.

The right head of the snake ravenously engulfed the small mouse soon after it was offered. The snake consumed its meal in the typical serpentine manner, other than the extra head on hand to watch. Sunshine Serpents posted a video of the feeding here:

Parker hopes the attention that this unusual snake has attracted has been positive for reptiles in general. “Sometimes reptiles get a bad rap because of old prejudices and irrational superstitions,” said Parker. “This is a beautiful and gentle little creature. Milk snakes actually make great pets.” Though photographs of the two-headed snake have circulated in print and on the internet around the world, and the snake has been featured on several TV news programs, Parker hopes that more people can have contact with the snake and learn from it. He would like to see the snake end up at an institution where it could be viewed by the public. “This is such a special animal that I would love to see it on display at a zoo, aquarium, or serpentarium where lots of people can learn from it,” said Parker.

Sunshine Serpents has decided to offer the snake for sale. Based on reported past sales of other two-headed snakes, the value of this snake could be in the five or even six figures. “In my opinion, this is the most beautiful two-headed snake to ever exist,” said Parker. “Not only is it insanely colorful, but the two heads are perfectly formed. The snake appears to be very healthy,” Parker added. Sunshine Serpents will take offers for the snake starting at $25,000.

Daniel Parker of Sunshine Serpents and University of Central Florida to appear with world famous reptile at Orlando Repticon on Saturday

ORLANDO—The famous two-headed snake that hatched in the living room of Central Florida biologist Daniel Parker will be on display to the public for the first time Saturday, December 17, 2011 at Repticon Orlando. The event will be held at the Central Florida Fairgrounds at 4603 West Colonial Drive in Orlando, Florida 32808. Parker will be doing a special presentation on the baby two-headed albino Honduran milk snake at 2:00 PM.

Each step in the beautiful little snake’s development has been watched by the world-wide media from its hatching a little over a month ago to its first meal (and subsequent digestion). Sunshine Serpents released a video of the snake’s first meal at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPpxwtnn5hk. Dr. Dan Rieck of Rieck Chiropractic in Dunnellon, FL recently performed an x-ray. The results were both fascinating and encouraging. Other than the unique bifurcation of the spine, the anatomy of the snake appeared to be normal and healthy.

The baby snake will be on display to the public for the first time throughout the Repticon event on Saturday.

At 2:00 PM, Parker will give a presentation packed with colorful photos, video, and fascinating facts on this and other two-headed snakes. “We are very excited to have this opportunity to share this special animal with the public,” said Parker. “I hope that this snake’s life can help me share with others the fascination that I have always felt with reptiles.”

Repticon (www.repticon.com) hosts family friendly reptile conventions across the United States. Repticon Orlando will open to V.I.P. guests at 9:00 AM on Saturday and to the general public at 10:00 AM. The event closes at 5:00 PM. It will also be open on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Sunshine Serpents (www.sunshineserpents.com) deals with all things involving reptiles and amphibians. They guide wildlife tours, lead educational presentations, consult and provide animals for film and TV projects, and propagate reptiles in captivity.