Amphisbaena: in existence?

The amphisbaena is a snake with heads on each end,(no tail)  known for eating just ants. it is also referred to as amphisbaena, amphisbona or “Mother of Ants”.

Greek mythology has a little to say about its origins and claims it was created from the Gorgon medusa’s blood that dripped from her head as Perseus flew over the Libyan Desert holding it in his hand. Cato’s army then came across it and other serpents while on the march. The amphisbaena then ate the bodies left behind.

Despite having its origins from greek mythology and several writers including Nicander, John Milton, Alexander Pope, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Alfred Tennyson, Aimé Césaire, A. E. Housman, and Allen Mandelbaum, referring to the amphisbaena as a mythical and legendary being who does know for sure whether it truly does not exist. It has been said that legends and myths are based on true stories.

Lucan, Pliny the Elder, Isidore of Seville, and Thomas Browne all made mention of it before the latter refuted its validity.

But I beg to differ. The possibility of such a reptile existing is not out of question. A quick look at the common earthworm should convince you. It was once thought by many that the earthworm had two heads but advancement in knowledge makes us know that though the earthworm is capable of making forward and backward movements like the amphisbaena, its head is located on one end closest to the clitellum. Earthworms have bristles or setae in groups or around their body. These can be moved in and out to grip the ground or wall of a burrow. They travel through underground tunnels or move on soil using the setae as anchors and pushing themselves forward or backward using stretching and contracting muscles.

The purportedly hazardous amphisbaena was widely used in traditional medicine and other treatments in antiquity. Pregnant woman have reportedly observed that wearing live Amphisbaena around their necks would have healthy pregnancies, However, one should only wear its skin if their objective is to treat illnesses like arthritis or the common cold. One is said to be able to attract a lot of admirers of the opposite sex by eating the meat of the amphisbaena(by the way, this might be the reason why it is extinct and we debate about its existence)  and killing someone at the time of the full moon could grant power to someone with a pure heart and mind. When working in freezing weather, lumberjacks might warm themselves by nailing the animal's skin or corpse to a tree, which also made it easier to topple the tree.

The amphisbaena is said to live in the desert, which could explain why there have not  been many sightings of this magnificent creature.  T.H. White speculates in The Book of Beasts that the creature is related to sightings of the worm lizards of the same name. The Mediterranean countries are home to these species.

These myths all have their origins. India’s flora and wildlife are depicted in the Códice Casanatense, a Portuguese book that details the places the Portuguese had traveled. A two-headed snake with one head on each end, like an amphisbaena, is one of the creatures displayed. The caption on the picture reads, “Indian two-headed snakes are harmless.” It’s probable that the amphisbaena was inspired by a sighting of an animal similar to this one.

Hopefully this has helped convince you about the possibility of the existence of this creature, and if you are not, a nightmare just might do the trick.