If you think snakes normally look scary, you may want to turn away now, because this one has its eyes on you.
In March, rangers in the Northern Territory found this three-eyed carpet python on the side of a highway, near Humpty Doo. The snake, nicknamed ‘Monty Python’, was quite young, and around 40 centimetres long.
The third eye, positioned on the front of its large forehead, is believed to have been perfectly able to see, despite its unusual location.
Some people thought this may have been the result of two skulls being merged together during the snake’s development. However, x-rays showed that the python just had an extra eye socket. One scientist suggests the eye may be leftover from a twin that never fully developed.
Unfortunately, this also made it hard for the python to eat. Monty Python died just a few weeks after being found. Who knows how many other weird animals there are that we just never find?
I don’t know if I’m allowed to post other peoples’ photos here, so the images for this story can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/271324366261167/posts/2284844224909161?s=100010085191763&v=i&sfns=mo
Lachlan Writes Science 