Two environmental consultants have spotted a rare baby timber rattlesnake in a forest in New Jersey. The snake, believed to be venomous, has two wholly formed heads, four eyes and two tongues which works independently.

The snake, weighing nearly 2-ounce, was lurking in the Pine Barrens forested area of New Jersey when the environmentalists, Dave Schneider and David Burkett – both employees of Herpetological Associates of Burlington County, found it last month. It was named "Double Dave" after the two environmentalists, reported ABC News Affiliate WPVI.

The environmentalists assumed that the snake was a newborn as it was found on Aug. 25 in the nest of a timber rattlesnake that was giving birth. Schneider estimates that the snake was only about 6-8 inches long and was likely to grow. Nonetheless, the rattlesnake looked scarier than others even as a baby because it had two heads, he said, adding that such a small venomous pit viper, with two fully-formed heads, is not common.

Schneider, who specializes in endangered and nearly extinct reptiles and amphibians, said in an interview with Daily News, “It’s pretty fascinating, something you never see. It’s very rare.”

Environmentalists believe this snake could easily fall prey to predators as it moves really slowly due to two heads and stiffens when trying to escape.

Schneider said, "It would be pretty difficult for this snake to survive in the wild."

The two-headed snakes are born in the same way as human conjoined twins. A developing embryo, which was supposed to split into two identical twins, stops halfway through and forms conjoin.

Talking to BBC, Schneider said a special permit was acquired from the state authorities for HA to preserve and study the rare snake. "We'll take care of it," he said.

Rattlesnake
Representational image of a snake. Getty Images/ David McNew
New Jersey