Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Amphisbaena (a Greek word, from amfis, both ways, and bainein, to go) is a serpent in ancient mythology, beginning or ending at both head and tail alike. Its fabled existence has been utilized by the poets, such as John Milton, Alexander Pope, and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The body of the amphisbaena, from 18 to 20 in. long, is of nearly the same thickness throughout. The head is small, and there can scarcely be said to be a tail, the vent being close to the extremity of the body. The animal lives mostly underground, burrowing in soft earth, and feeds on ants and other small animals. From its appearance, and the ease with which it moves backwards, has arisen the popular belief that the amphisbaena has two heads, and that when the body is cut in two the parts seek each other out and reunite. From this has arisen another popular error, which attributes extraordinary curative properties to its flesh when dried and pulverized. (from an old encyclopedia) This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.