How Do Snakes Reproduce? Interesting Facts For Curious Kids

Snake species are apodous (limbless), elongated, raptorial, and carnivorous types of reptiles.

These vertebrates (spinal column bone structures) are amniotes, meaning they make embryos that develop in a protected sac. They have distinct scale-like skin which covers their whole body structure.

One of the most interesting evolutionary features of snake species is that they have cranial kinesis. This feature is also one of the most prominent ones.

The superior function of cranial kinesis is a movable jaw structure. When snakes eat their prey, which sometimes can be double or triple their relative size, this awesome feature helps them to swallow their prey easily.

The hearts of these reptiles have three chambers. Their heart, which is majorly responsible for their blood circulation, is safeguarded by a pericardial sac that is movable. The reason is to accommodate their prey when eating them. They do not have a diaphragm and this movable feature also protects their heart from damage.

The internal organs of snakes are elongated (tube-shaped) within their bodies. Just like humans, every function of the organ is related to one another.

As surprising as this sounds, snakes have all the major organs aligned within their bodies. These organs include the esophagus, trachea, tracheal lungs, lungs, heart, liver, stomach, air sac, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, intestines, reproductive organs, and kidneys.

Snakes are called cold-blooded reptiles and also go into regular periods of hibernation. Snakes, among other carnivores, hunt prey that they can easily swallow.

Sometimes snakes such as pythons and anacondas hunt bigger prey as well. Snakes cannot break down their food before consuming it, so the only viable option available to them is to swallow their food. Their mobile jaw structure makes this possible.

Some species of snakes are highly venomous, while some species are mildly venomous. The ones who do not have venom have different body characteristics than venomous ones.

The venomous species of snakes contain a high level of venom (complex structures of protein) that are highly toxic to humans and animals alike. Their bites can be fatal and could result in death if not treated immediately. Anacondas and pythons are not venomous snakes, but they knock out their prey by constriction.

Snake Mating Pattern

Around the world, there are thousands of species of snakes. They inhabit many areas around the globe, excluding areas such as Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, and Antarctica. There are more than 3,500 species of snake that are found around the world. Reproduction is the genesis of evolution, so let's find out more about serpents!

Snake reproduction behavior is generally the same across all species, but it can vary. The mating instinct found among all animal species shares similarities. Snakes are no different.

The interpretation of snake mating and its example has not yet been properly understood by the masses. Our biological comprehension of snakes and their reproductive systems has been limited.

In the last decade, it was discovered that snakes reproduce in two ways. Their reproduction activity is divided into two categories, sexual mode and asexual mode.

Snakes and their courtship activities depend on multiple factors such as breeding season, environmental factors, the health of the snakes, behavioral matching, and the heat regulation system of both male snakes and female snakes.

Both female snakes and male snakes show commendable stratagem when attracting their mates. During snake reproductive time, female snakes can exercise greater control.

A female snake can control and engineer the genotypes and phenotypes of its offspring. As impressive as this sounds, a female snake can also maneuver its mating process as well.

Breeding season for snakes occurs after their hibernation (brumation) period is over, so mating happens during the spring season. Regions with multiple season changes provide multiple mating seasons for snakes.

In the regions which support subtropical and tropical climatic conditions, snakes can mate throughout the year. Snakes, and all species of the entire animal kingdom, intrinsically want to ensure the survival of their young.

Snakes also court their mates during the mating process. Male snakes often court female snakes and engage in ritual mating rules as well.

The male allures the female by showing dominance and mating magnetism, and the courtship tendencies can change according to different snake species.

Some snake species, when engaging in sexual mating, may result in a mating ball. The male snake has hemipenes (which store sperm) that are enclosed in its lower body. The female snake has a cloaca which is also enclosed in its lower body.

A female snake can choose her sexual mate and can control the mating plug. Female snakes also release pheromones in order to charm male snakes. Snakes mate in the water as well.

What Are Viviparous Snakes

Viviparity occurs among certain species of snakes, as not all of them are viviparous. Through this method, the female gives birth to live young, as they are not born in a shell, egg, or sac. They are nurtured inside their mother's sac and then released as neonates.

Boas of the family Boidae are viviparous snakes. They are not venomous and some of the world's largest snakes belong to this family. Female boas are often bigger than male boas.

Anacondas, pythons, and boa constrictors are giants who belong to the Boidae family. The female boa has pelvic spurs and cloaca (located at the base of the tail) as well. The male boa has hemipenes.

It is also known that female boas can detain sperm for around 12 months. When these snakes mate they can take hours, or even up to weeks.

Water snakes are a family member of the Colubrid family. The females give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.

The hemipenes and cloaca are present in both males and females. The female snake can stay pregnant for up to three months. Multiple male snakes are attracted by the female's scent and tail around her in order to mate.

White-lipped snakes of the Elapid family are venomous snakes. They give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. There are multiple species in the diverse snake family that practice viviparity, but most reptiles lay eggs.

What Are Ovoviviparous Snakes

Ovoviviparous snakes are those snakes that give birth to neonates, which are protected inside the female's body. The young are protected and enclosed by a sac or are developed inside eggs. When they are ready, the mother releases her offspring.

Pit vipers (Crotalinae) belong to the venomous family of vipers. Their pit organ is the most distinguishable feature. Asian pit vipers, Lanceheads, and Rattlesnakes are some other notable family members.

The cloaca and hemipenes are present in both males and females pit vipers. Pit vipers have impressive rotatable fangs and can control the secretion of venom as well.

The male snake often follows the female by scent called pheromones. Most pit vipers are ovoviviparous, but some other members are viviparous as well.

Rinkhals is another member of the venomous family of Elapids. They look like King Cobras, but are not the same. Their venom is less fatal than other family members.

Rinkhals are ovoviviparous as they do not lay eggs, they give birth to babies that hatch inside the eggs. These eggs are incubated inside the mother. Male rinkhals behave aggressively when trying to mate.

Garter snakes are related to the family of Colubrids. These snakes have an intricate system of communication which is majorly done through pheromones.

The female and male snakes can differentiate the scents through pheromones only. Sometimes a male garter snake can produce both male and female scents.

When in danger, the female garter releases an odor from a gland that is located near the cloaca. These types of snakes do not pose any fatal dangers and are solitary, like many other snake species.

Garter snakes are ovoviviparous as they give birth to live young. They often mate in a mating ball.

Myths About Snake Birth

There are many myths about snakes in general, but some of them are also about how snakes reproduce. So let's bust some tales that surround snakes and snake reproduction!

When snakes mate or reproduce their systematic mating depends on various levels. They may include species differentiation, environmental factors, and the health of the snakes.

Females often have the power to control and manipulate males. They mate or reproduce only when they can sense the desired signals by females or males.

Female snakes deliver babies in three ways through their cloaca, located at the base of the tail. The first is the oviparous way in which snakes lay eggs. Some of the oviparous species of snake are Cobra, Krait, and rat snakes.

The other two ways are viviparous and ovoviviparous methods. In an oviparous way, the female coils around her eggs in order to protect her babies from danger. The snakes deposit their eggs only in a warm and secluded place.

The mother snakes who follow the viviparous and ovoviviparous methods also release their young ones in a moist, warm place, which offers them safety and seclusion.

Snakes have been historically transformed and these resplendent creatures adorn our wondrous planet. Snakes are a very crucial part of our biodiversity and ecology.

Even though a small percentage of snakes are venomous, they do not always pose a threat to humans. Snakes only bite or attack when they feel threatened.

There are thousands of snake species, so it is better if we know how to differentiate between venomous and non-venomous snakes. Snakes love their independence and are solitary travelers.

The females sometimes stay with their eggs until they hatch but in some cases, the mother leaves as well. When snakes mate and give birth, the females are alone when the birthing process occurs.

Shortly after mating, the snakes go their own way as they are introverted and remain naturally aloof.