Nature is a vast and wondrous force, and we’re only just scratching the surface of its potential.
Genetic mutations happen pretty often across the animal kingdom, and though we may not completely understand why , they are nothing less than astounding sights to behold.
Abnormal variations of snakes have been slithering their way into the scientific community for a while now.
Two-headed snakes are genetically similar to conjoined twins, as two separate snakes did not form separately in the womb.
It’s certainly odd to find a two-headed snake just hanging out, but hey, it’s been seen before.
However, a recent finding on an Australian highway has scientists baffled.
This baby carpet python, aptly named Monty Python, has three completely functional eyes, along with three separate eye sockets.
He was found in the town of Humpty Doo, 25 miles south-east of Darwin.
In contrast to the two-headed snake, Monty Python’s X-ray showed that he is not two conjoined snakes, but rather, just a snake with three eyes.
Mutations such as this are a natural part of evolution.
Professor Fry of the University of Queensland explained that every baby has a mutation of some sort— this one is just particularly odd-looking.
“I haven’t seen a three-eyed snake before, but we have a two-headed carpet python in our lab – it’s just a different kind of mutation.”
Sadly, Monty passed away shortly after he was discovered.
The placement of his third eye made it very difficult for him to eat, and consequently, he did not live very long.
I hope his unique perspective provided him with knowledge that we could never dream to know.
The Australian Outback never ceases to amaze me.
Here’s to hoping that this snake is not the last of his kind, so that we have more opportunities to understand the scientific reasoning behind his magnificent form.
RIP Monty Python.
Last Updated on May 3, 2019 by Sydney Brooman