送交者: Latino2 于 2006-1-03, 11:18:46:
Two-headed snake 'up for auction'
Both heads are connected to the same stomach, helping it survive An American aquarium says it is putting a rare two-headed albino rat snake for auction on eBay for $150,000 (£87,000).
The World Aquarium in St Louis has been home to the unique reptile, named "We", for the past six years.
Aquarium president Leonard Sonnenschein said he expects the snake to generate the same level of demand as a priceless work of art.
eBay does not normally allow the sale of live animals, but the aquarium said an exception was made in this case.
An aquarium spokeswoman said the animal was unique and was being treated more as a work of art than a live specimen.
She said conditions were in place to make sure it went to a responsible buyer.
We is being sold to pay for education, conservation and research programmes, the aquarium said.
Healthy size
The aquarium purchased the snake for $15,000 (£8,700) when it was six-and-a-half years old, despite knowing that most two-headed snakes do not live for more than a few months.
"It's an amazing snake," Mr Sonnenschein told the Associated Press news agency. "When people see it they are awe-struck."
The snake is a healthy size for a rat snake, at 2.5cm (one inch) thick and 1.2m (four feet) long.
It is currently at the prime age for breeding and is expected to live for another 10 to 15 years.
It has survived for so long because both heads are connected to the same stomach, Mr Sonnenschein added.
We was almost sold in 2004, after it was stolen by a city museum worker. Fortunately, authorities found the snake in the man's garage at his home in Illinois.
Mr Sonnenschein said the man was intending to sell it.