Two-headed bearded lizard surprise for Wirral breeders
- Published
The two-headed bearded dragon lizard certainly came as a surprise to breeder Stephen Evans
An incredibly rare two-headed lizard, usually found in Australia, has hatched on Merseyside.
Bearded dragon lizard breeder Stephen Evans, 34 and from Birkenhead, Wirral, made the discovery while checking an incubator containing one of the eggs.
He told ´óÏó´«Ã½ News he initially thought there were two lizards in one egg before realising they were co-joined.
"I just saw the two heads popping out when I checked the incubator and thought they were twins," he said.
Mr Evans said his wife Jodie soon "realised they were a bit special".
The couple specialise in breeding lizards with rare colours and unusual patterns - which are known as morphs.
Factbox: Bearded dragon lizards
The "beard" on the underside of their throat can turn black if they are stressed or see a potential rival
Native to Australia, they bask on rocks and exposed branches and live in deserts, shrubs and woodlands
They are omnivores, but tend to favour small insects
Baby dragons, or beardies, can be very fragile
Some species are kept as pets or exhibited in zoos as they are relatively easy to care for compared to other reptiles
They are good-natured and naturally curious, but are not ideal pets for children