It maysound like something out of an ancient text, but a South Carolina family says the two-headed beast they have found at their home is very real.

While snakes with two heads alongside each other have been found in the wild before, this one has a head on each end of its body - and they appear to take shifts on which one is in control.

Each head has two eyes and a fast-moving tongue.

Fox Carolina reported that the small snake was found by workers at the home of Savanna Logan and her brother Preston, who are fascinated by the animal.

The kids say that they have been parading their special new pet at school to show off to their friends since it was found about three weeks ago.

The snake has been identified by the biology department at nearby Ware Shoals High School as a rough earth snake.




The children's mother, Tina Stewart, told Fox Carolina: 'One head’s is bigger and more dominant than the other, but they both seem to control the body.'

She added: 'The main head will do one thing and then the other part’s trying to go in the opposite direction.'

Even with two heads, the rough earth snake, or Virginia striatula, is not poisonous or considered dangerous to humans.

Its primary food source is earth worms and small arthropods, and it ranges in size from nine to 14 inches.

But while the snake pulls itself in opposite directions, young Savanna and Preston are also pulled in different directions on what to name the snake.

Preston told Fox Carolina: 'I want to name it Billy Bob.'

His sister chimed in: 'I'll just name it Oreo.'