If you are wondering what female snakes are called then you’ve come to the right article.
As, in this article, you’ll find the exact answer to this question, and also after you’ve read the answer to the main question then I’ll also cover a few more answers to closely related questions as well to extend your knowledge further.
I hope you learn a lot from this article!
What Is a Female Snake Called?
There is no specific word used to refer to a female snake.
Males and females are both called ‘snakes’.
There are no gendered terms in the English language to describe these reptiles although other languages may refer to them differently.
The only time it might be necessary to use a word other than ‘snake’ is when referring to a hatchling (a newborn) or a snakelet (juvenile).
Parthenogenesis, the process of asexual reproduction has been observed in some species but is relatively rare and does not impact the gender of the snake.
Female snakes and male snakes exist in all species.
What Are Female King Cobras Called?
Somewhat disappointingly, female King Cobras are not referred to as Queen Cobras as one might expect.
They are simply called female King Cobras.
There are no gendered words to describe snakes meaning males and females are just ‘snakes’.
The name King Cobra refers to the species’ predatory habits and tendency to eat other cobras rather than any royal ambitions it may have.
Check out the video below if you want to see a huge king cobra.
Is There a Female Snake?
Snake species come in male and female varieties like most other reptiles.
There is no specific term for a female snake but there are biological differences.
Sometimes these differences can be seen on the outside of their bodies.
For example, some species have noticeably bigger female snakes than males.
With some other species, the only way to tell a female from a male is to manually check its gender.
A female snake of any species is simply referred to as a ‘snake’ or ‘female snake’.
What Is a Male Snake Called?
Gendered terms are not applicable when describing snakes.
Males are called ‘snakes’ or referred to as the male version of the X or Y species.
Interestingly, most male snakes are noticeably smaller than their female equivalents.
One of the few species to have larger males is the King Cobra.
They can grow to more than 18 feet and weigh as much as 13 pounds.
Is There a Male Snake?
There are male snakes in every snake species.
Though, in some rare cases, they are not required for procreation.
The easiest (albeit not the most accurate) way to distinguish a male snake from a female is its size.
In around 66% of species, the male snake is noticeably smaller than the female.
This can be a handy way to check a snake’s gender on site, from a safe distance, but it should be remembered that not all species work this way.
For instance, male King Cobras and male Rat Snakes are always larger than females.
How Do You Tell a Snake’s Gender?
There are several characteristics that snake owners can look at to determine if their pet is a female or male including (1) tail shape, (2) size and colors, (3) anal spurs, and (4) internal genitals.
The only surefire way to check a snake’s gender is to manually feel or see its internal genitals.
It’s a very common process but one that can easily injure a snake if not performed correctly.
For some pet owners, particularly non-breeders, ‘probing’ or ‘popping’ a snake’s genitals isn’t always worth the risk when other characteristics can provide clues.
1. Tail Shape
In most species, male snakes have thicker tail ends than females.
The tail end begins at the snake’s cloacal opening and is thicker to accommodate the pair of hemipenis organs used for reproduction.
It can sometimes be a quick way to check a snake’s gender if a male and female can be observed together.
Checking the gender of a single snake can be tricky unless you’re knowledgeable about the species.
2. Size and Color
Ascertaining a snake’s gender from its size is the least accurate method but can be useful when making identifications in the wild.
In 66% of species, females are larger so, if it’s unsafe to handle a particular snake, a visual check of its overall size can provide clues.
This won’t always be the case so it’s important to know whether the species you’re observing is sexually dimorphic (exhibits gender-based differences in appearance).
Sexually dimorphic species usually have larger females and different colored scales that differentiate males from females.
3. Anal Spurs
Visually checking a snake’s gender via its anal spurs is another hit-and-miss method but it’s quick and poses no risk to the animal.
All snakes have anal spurs which are the evolutionary leftovers from when snakes still had hind legs but they are not visible in all species.
When they are visible, the males’ spurs tend to be larger and more well-defined.
To examine the spurs, locate the cloacal opening and look for the two thorny protrusions on either side.
You should be aware that individual variation, not just gender, can play a part in the size of a snake’s spurs.
Generally, larger anal spurs indicate a male but, as in humans, there is a broad spectrum for what’s normal.
It won’t always be the case.
4. Internal Genitals
This is the only foolproof way to check a snake’s gender but it’s not something every non-breeding owner needs or knows how to do.
You should only manually check a snake’s gender if you have the proper knowledge and aren’t satisfied with a best-guess scenario based on visual characteristics.
Even when performed perfectly, it can be an unpleasant experience for the snake.
To identify a snake’s genital configuration, you can use a metal probe to feel for the presence (or non-presence) of hemipenis organs.
Or, with smaller snakes, it is sometimes possible to apply pressure to the area beneath the cloaca and ‘pop’ the hemipenes out of the body if it’s a male.
Check out the following informative video if you want to find out how you can tell if a snake is either a female or a male.
What Are the Differences Between Male and Female Corn Snakes?
The quickest way to distinguish between a male and a female Corn Snake is to compare their sizes.
The male snake’s tails are almost always thicker and longer than the tails of the females in this species.
Larger male snakes may have dark streaky lines running down their bodies that can help with sex differentiation.
Though this feature is rarely seen in smaller males.
An example of a non-visual indicator is aggression.
Female Corn Snakes do not show aggression towards one another but the males are extremely territorial.
They will fight for dominance if kept in the same enclosure.
What Are the Differences In the Tails of Female and Male Snakes?
Male snakes almost always have thicker tails than female snakes, particularly around their cloacal opening.
The tail is thicker here to accommodate the snake’s pair of reproductive hemipenis organs.
This difference is only clear in adult snakes and there’s plenty of variation from species to species.
It can be a quick way to differentiate between a male and female if they’re kept in the same enclosure.
However, it’s not the easiest method if you haven’t got a second snake to make comparisons with.
Male snakes also have longer tails than females and females have a more sharply tapered tail.
When it comes to baby snakes, it can be very hard to tell whether it’s either male or female.