Three-eyed python found in Australian outback
May 2, 2019
Park rangers in Australia have found a three-eyed python near the outback town of Humpty Doo, just outside of Darwin in the Northern Territory.
The juvenile carpet python, about 40 centimeters long, was found on the Arnhem Highway in late March with a malformed skull and an extra eye protruding from the middle of its head.
"An X-Ray of the snake's head was obtained which revealed it was not two separate heads forged together, rather it appeared to be one skull with an additional eye socket and three functioning eyes," Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife wrote on their Facebook page.
Mutation likely genetic, from before birth
It was generally agreed that the eye likely developed very early during the embryonic stage of development, the authority wrote.
"It is extremely unlikely that this is from environmental factors and is almost certainly a natural occurrence as malformed reptiles are relatively common."
But the small snake had struggled to feed since its discovery by the rangers and died last week, a spokesman told German news agency dpa on Thursday.
No Arya to save the three-eyed snake
The department first posted the photo of the python on its Facebook page on Wednesday, saying: "The three-eyed snake warns The Dry is coming!" in reference to the TV show Game of Thrones.
A key character in the show is called "the three-eyed raven," while the phrase "Winter is coming" features prominently.
The Facebook post drew considerable attention, quickly reaching 1 million views.