Reproductive System For Snakes:
Milk snakes reproduce sexually, with a male and a female versus asexually, when there is an organism producing the babies by itself through all its organs in its body, which may be different from other organisms. Snake reproduction begins with the female snake letting off pheromones, a chemical substance with a strong scent from their skin indicating that they are sexually mature and ready to mate. During the fourth brumation period (age 4) is when milk snakes become sexually mature. Sexually mature males can sense the pheromones by flicking their tongue on the ground (1) and following the trail left by the female. Once the two snakes are together, the male will begin to court her. The male will bump his chin on the females back and slither ontop of her. When the female decides that she is willing to go through with the interaction, she will raise her tail. (2)
Male snakes reproductive organs are called the hemipenes. They are located at the base of the tail, one on either side. They are both meant to insert sperm into the female, but only one is used. Which one is used, is dependent on which side the male snake is slithering on. (3)
Female snakes along with male snakes have cloacas. The make snake inserts his hemipenes into the females cloaca and babies are created that way with the mixture of sperm and egg. The life span of a milk snake would typically be around 15 years.
MIlk snakes reproduce during the months of April to June. The gestation period is from 28 to 39 days. Females lay 6 to 18 eggs that hatch at about 6 to 9 weeks. Females are very protective over their eggs, which they lay in damp soil. After about a week after the eggs hatch, the parents will leave their offspring to fend on its own.
Most snakes have about 74 to 78 chromosomes.
1. http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/snakes-sense-airborne-sex-pheromones/
2. http://science.howstuffworks.com/zoology/reptiles-amphibians/snake5.htm
3.http://dnr.state.il.us/education/snakes/snakeanatomy.HTM
Male snakes reproductive organs are called the hemipenes. They are located at the base of the tail, one on either side. They are both meant to insert sperm into the female, but only one is used. Which one is used, is dependent on which side the male snake is slithering on. (3)
Female snakes along with male snakes have cloacas. The make snake inserts his hemipenes into the females cloaca and babies are created that way with the mixture of sperm and egg. The life span of a milk snake would typically be around 15 years.
MIlk snakes reproduce during the months of April to June. The gestation period is from 28 to 39 days. Females lay 6 to 18 eggs that hatch at about 6 to 9 weeks. Females are very protective over their eggs, which they lay in damp soil. After about a week after the eggs hatch, the parents will leave their offspring to fend on its own.
Most snakes have about 74 to 78 chromosomes.
1. http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/snakes-sense-airborne-sex-pheromones/
2. http://science.howstuffworks.com/zoology/reptiles-amphibians/snake5.htm
3.http://dnr.state.il.us/education/snakes/snakeanatomy.HTM