Amphisbaina

The amphisbaina /ˌæmfɪsˈbiːnə/ is a North African ant-eating serpent or semi-reptilian beast with a head at each end, the additional one being on the tail. The creature is alternatively called the amphisbaena, amphisbene, amphisboena, amphisbona, amphista, amfivena; amphivena, or anphivena (the last two being feminine) and is also known as the "Mother of Ants".

According to the Greeks, the amphisbaina was spawned from Medusa's blood that dripped from her head as Perseus flew over the Libyan Desert with it in his hand. After their formation, Cato's army then encountered them along with other serpents on the march. Amphisbainas fed off the corpses left behind.

The amphisbaena has a twin head, that is one at the tail end as well, as though it were not enough for poison to be poured out of one mouth.

— Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia

This early description of the amphisbaina depicts a venomous, dual-headed snakelike creature. However, medieval and later drawings often show it with two or more scaled feet, particularly chicken feet, and feathered wings. Some even depict it as a horned, dragon-like creature with a serpent-headed tail and small, round ears, while others have both "necks" of equal size so that it cannot be determined which is the rear head. Many descriptions of the amphisbaina say its eyes glow like candles or lightning, but the poet Nicander seems to contradict this by describing it as "always dull of eye". He also says: "From either end protrudes a blunt chin; each is far from each other."

Amphisbainas makes their home in the desert.

The dangerous amphisbaina had many uses in the art of folk medicine and other such remedies. Expecting women wearing a live amphisbaina around their necks will have safe pregnancies. However, if one's goal was to cure ailments such as arthritis or the common cold, one should wear only its skin. By eating the meat of the amphisbaina, one could supposedly attract many lovers of the opposite sex and slaying one during the full moon could give power to one who is pure of heart and mind. Woodcutters suffering from cold weather on the job could nail its carcass or skin to a tree to keep warm, while in the process allowing the tree to be felled more easily.

Etymology
Its name comes from the Greek words amphis, meaning "both ways", and bainein, meaning "to go".