2007-06-29 14:06:26 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
The male snake will crawl over the female in a zig-zag side to side fashion, all the while making twitching movements. This is all part of the courtship and can take minutes, or even up to hours, if the female doesn't respond immediately. Once the female gives in to the male's persistent advances, he wraps his tail around hers and inserts his (there are two) hemipenes coming out of his cloaca (anus) into her cloaca. Hemipenes appear to be, but are not the actual penis/penises (as commonly thought). Their purpose is to lock the cloacas together. The sperm is released from the actual penis which is located between the hemipenes. The snakes will usually entwine themselves around each other (appearing to constrict) and begin to role around in a frenzy (excuse my typos, I'm getting a little hot here) and this can last for several minutes or even hours.
There also is a snake 'battle' dance, which people often mistake for a 'mating' dance (sometimes it is). Two rival males will tilt their heads up and began to push each others' necks together. As they do this, they will lift higher and higher off the ground, all the while pushing at each other to and fro until one of them loses balance and falls. He will usually get back up and advance again, and this can go for quite awhile, but in the end one will crawl away in defeat and leave the 'territory'.
To set the record staight. There are two kinds of ways that snake eggs are incubated. One is oviparous (eggs that are layed),and viviparous (eggs that are incubated in the body). This is not to be confused with pregnancy or live birth as there are no umbilical cords attached, just semi-transparent egg sacs. Though it does appear that the snake is giving birth, as the snakes 'hatch'. Most (if not all) rattlesnake species are viviparous.
2007-06-29 16:25:08 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Male snakes will rub against the females and when she is receptive he will tuck his tail under hers and insert 1 of 2 hemipenis. They can stay together for as little as a few minutes and up to several hours.
Some snakes lay eggs, others give live birth.
2007-06-29 14:41:39 · answer #2 · answered by hummi22689 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
How DO snakes mate. Go back to school.
First Lady, some don't lay eggs.
2007-06-29 14:13:08 · answer #3 · answered by Chase 2 · 1⤊ 6⤋
its usually all the males fight over the female
its like.. a big ball of snake.
2007-06-29 17:33:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
They lay eggs.
2007-06-29 14:13:39 · answer #5 · answered by First Lady 7 · 0⤊ 5⤋