BUENOS AIRES: A two-headed snake was born at a wildlife centre in northern Argentina, marking the first such case in an area that is home to numerous species of the reptiles.

The pit viper was born at the Jorge Washington Abalos Venomous Animals Institute, a unit of the health ministry of Santiago del Estero province, EFE news agency reported Monday.

The reptile has two short necks and two well-developed heads attached to its body, but only one of the heads exhibits the characteristic tongue movement of snakes, officials at the institute, which develops serums to treat snake bites, said.

"It's something surprising and strange. All these years, we've had cases of malformed animals and insects, but I never saw a pit viper with two heads, even though it's a type that's abundant in Santiago del Estero's jungles," institute director Miriam Vucharchuc told the La Nacion newspaper.

The institute's experts said it was hard to tell how long the snake might live.