Do snakes lay eggs or give live birth?

We are all used to the notion that all snakes lay eggs. Well, it is important, henceforth, to know that some snakes actually give birth to live young ones. What’s even more interesting is that some species of snakes give live birth but actually develop eggs inside them. Is that really possible? Find out now.



How do Snakes Reproduce?

This will solely depend on the species. Some species will lay eggs while others will give birth to young ones as usual. First, let us take a look at the three different methods of reproduction.

Oviparous

Most snakes, approximately 70% are oviparous, which means, they lay eggs. The eggs must first go through incubation, which means keeping them warm until they are ready to be hatched into young ones. There is a family of snakes known as Colubridae, all members of this family lay eggs. They include the green snakes, kingsnakes, rat snakes, Cobras’ mambas, adders, and most members of Elapidae family are in this category.

Viviparous

This method of reproduction has no egg produced at all. Viviparous snakes use the placenta and the yolk sac to nourish their young ones. This is the most unusual thing among the reptiles. At any stage of development, there will no egg produced at all and that is how they give birth to their live young ones. Green anacondas and Boa constrictors are some of the examples of viviparous snakes.

Ovoviviparous

Literally, you can think of this as a cross breed of snakes who lay eggs and those who give birth to live young ones. Eggs are developed in the bodies of the ovoviviparous female snakes. Finally, when they give birth to young ones, the eggs are retained inside their bodies. Outside of an egg, the offspring are born. The eggs are basically hatched inside of them and the baby comes out very active with no shell. Ovoviviparous snakes include the Rattlesnakes. They are quite amazing. The egg is hatched inside of them and the baby is born with no shell.

Amazing Facts About Snakes

The baby snakes who are born live, the ovoviviparous and viviparous species fend for themselves from the first day they are born. When you come to the snake world, there is nothing like parental protection. Just shortly after birth, the babies go out to survive on their own. Have you ever asked yourself why baby rattlesnakes are usually given birth with fully loaded venom and fangs? Well, it is because they are born to survive. Most sea snakes also give birth to live babies in the water.

For the species which lay eggs, the eggs are also abandoned shortly after being laid by the females. Only a few species will incubate their eggs until they are hatched. In the world of snakes, the mother of the decade’s award only goes to the highly poisonous snake king cobra. King cobras build nests for the laid eggs and stay around for a while after they have been hatched.

Bottomline

70% of snakes globally lay eggs except for the vipers, rattlesnakes, boas and most sea snakes who deliver young ones.


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