Polycephaly More Than One Head — Multi-Headed Animals
- Published by
- Posted on
- Leave your thoughts
-
Condition of having more than one head is know as Polycephaly. This term is derived from Greek language where poly means ‘Much’ and kephali, ‘Head’. In medical sciences all these conditions are congenital cephalic disorders.
Many occurrences of multi-headed animals have been found in real life as well as in mythology. The double-headed eagle is a common symbol found in historical studies even though no such animal is known to have ever existed. Oldest evidence found so far of two-headed animals is around 120 million years old fossil of an ancient lizard which was discovered in 2007, which proves that animal with multiple heads do exist and from long time ago, though very rare.
Double-headed eagle emblem of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Istanbul), based on insignia of the Byzantine Empire from Relief from buildings of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
The thumbnail is Double-headed eagle emblem of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Istanbul), based on insignia of the Byzantine Empire from buildings of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
There are two variants of animals with two heads
- Animals with two heads on one body
- Animals with two faces over one head
Snakes are the most common two-headed animals and still are very rare. These two-headed animals are actually twins conjoined or a fully formed individual with a complete and a parasitic twin only consisting of a head. These snakes are displayed sometimes on animal side shows or zoos, also a few museums have specimens of two-headed snakes preserved with them.
Here we are listing a few animals with both variants of two headness along with their pictures.
Two-Headed Young Tortoise
Two Headed Tortoise Wellington, South Africa
A two-headed young tortoise in Wellington, South Africa is held by its owner, Noel Daniels. Noel Daniels says that the tortoise does all the things a normal tortoise does and that the rare phenomena of polycephaly occurs during the embryonic stage of development.
Two-Headed Bobtail Lizard
Two Headed Bobtail Lizard, Coogee New South Wales
This two-headed reptile was rescued from Coogee by the Park and appears to be doing well, although the life expectancy of such mutated births is expected to be very short. It eats from both heads but the larger head has the primary control and also tried to attack the smaller one, its movement is difficult as both heads control its legs. It also has a healthy sibling without any mutation. Bobtaillizards give birth to live offspring, rather than laying eggs.
Two Faced Cat Frank and Louie
Two Faced Cat Frank and Louie, Worcester, Massachusetts
This cat sitting on a mat in his home in Worcester, Massachusetts with two faces is known as Frank and Louie. The animal is known as a Janus cat, named for the figure in Roman mythology with two faces on one head. The owner calls the face on the left Frank, while the face on the right she identifies as Louie. Frank and Louie also set a Guinness record by surviving for 12 years in Massachusetts.
Two-Faced Hereford Calf
Hereford calf, Elk Grove California
A Hereford calf with two joining heads is bottle fed at a veterinary clinic in Elk Grove, California where it was taken by owner Dick Harry. The twelve day old female calf can eat with both mouths but the one being fed is more dominant.
Sources: (A) Wikipedia (B) Emirates 24/7
You Might Be Interested In:
Eternal Flame Falls
This small waterfall located in the Shale Creek Preserve along a section of the Chestnut Ridge Park, near Buffalo New York has a rather interesting phenomena associated with it. The aptly named “Eternal Flame Falls” sits on a pocket of natural methane gas, which seeps out through a fracture in the rocks behind the waterfall.
Sweet Tasting Sugar Facts
Today on facts list we have some sugar coated facts for you that would leave a sweet taste in your mouth. Before getting started let’s take a look at how sugar reaches us in a granulated form. There are two main sources from which sugar is formed one is beet root known as beet sugar… View Article
Glowing Firefly Squids — Blue Blobs of Japan
This image recently went viral on all over the social media and image sharing websites including Reddit, Pinterest, Stumble and a few others. These glowing blue creatures are actually known as Glowing Firefly Squids and considered to be the most beautiful creature of marine life on earth. The scientific name of Firefly Squid is Watasenia… View Article
10 interesting Facts about Valentine’s Day
Love is in the air as it is Valentine’s Day. Now who wouldn’t be familiar with this great day meant for sharing love gestures? Couples desperately wait for 14th February to express their feelings to their partners. Though everyone must be familiar with the day’s history but let’s take a quick look at it. The… View Article