eggs and live birth?

Question

Why is it some snakes give live birth and some snakes lay eggs? I just wondered if there is some sort of coincidences...for example...majority of the poisonous snakes has a "triangle" shaped head, while the majority of the nonpoisonous snake don't have "triangle" shaped head.

Answer 1

I'm not a herpatologist, but the most logical reason why some snakes are ovoviviporous (giving live birth to embryos that incubated in eggs in utero) and some are oviporous (laying eggs that are incubated outside the body) is evolution. Some may need to keep their young in their body because their environment may not allow them to lay nests (i.e. predators, geologic conditions, etc.). This ensures the young have a better chance of survival upon being born. Being ovoviviporous is more biologically advanced than just laying eggs in a nest.

As someone else said, fish do this. Some cartilaginous fishes such as some shark species, all rays and also some bony fishes such as guppies and mollies are ovoviviporous.

Answer 2

Hi. Head shape is not a good indicator of a snake's being harmful or safe. Knowledge is. The snakes that give birth simply house the eggs until the hatch. Not like a mammal.

Answer 3

This phenomenon is not only found in snakes (reptiles), but also in many kinds of fish, where some lay eggs and others give birth to live offspring. It needs a trained biologist to answer this question in depth. Sorry I could not be of more help.

Answer 4

I'm pretty sure there are very few snakes that give live birth, one being the anaconda. The reason this is is because the eggs that did not hatch INSIDE the anaconda mother and were born live are eaten by the anaconda mother, so it's either your born live or your eaten.

Answer 5

it's just the way snakes were made, like u and me only i hope Ur not poisonous