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Most species of snakes show no sexual dimorphism and other methods are necessary to differentiate between males and females. Find this out in [[Snake Physical Examination|snake physical examination]].

Most species of snakes show no sexual dimorphism and other methods are necessary to differentiate between males and females.

 

[[Image:Wn_plains_garter_snake_eggs_+_ovary.jpg|250px|thumb|right|'''[[Garter Snake|Garter snake]] ovary and eggs''' - ©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved.]]

 

[[Image:Wn_plains_garter_snake_eggs_+_ovary.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''[[Garter Snake]] ovary and eggs''' - ©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved.]]

==Ovaries==

==Ovaries==

The reptilian [[Female Reproductive Tract -The Ovary - Anatomy & Physiology|ovary]] consists of follicular cells, epithelial and endothelial cells, nerve tissue and connective tissue in an elastic tunic. The ovaries of snakes are elongate and are located near the pancreas/spleen/gall bladder, cranial to the kidneys. The right ovary is cranial to the left but may overlap. Both ovaries are present.

The reptilian ovary consists of follicular cells, epithelial and endothelial cells, nerve tissue and connective tissue in an elastic tunic. The ovaries of snakes are elongate and are located near the pancreas/spleen/gall bladder, cranial to the kidneys. The right ovary is cranial to the left but may overlap. Both ovaries are present.  Some fossorial species have lost one ovary and oviduct.

==Oviducts==

==Oviducts==

[[Image:Burmese_python_Ovaries.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''[[Burmese Python]]''' ovaries - ©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved.]]

[[Image:Burmese_python_Ovaries.jpg|250px|thumb|right|'''[[Burmese Python]]''' ovaries - ©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved.]]

The oviduct is divided into infundibulum, magnum (secretes albumin), “uterus” (secretes membrane and in some species of viviparous snakes serves for placentation) and vagina. There is a region of mucosal folds and alveolar glands in the cranial oviduct, the receptaculum seminis, that serves for sperm storage allowing continued fertility from one insemination. The oviducts empty into the urodeum through the urogenital papillae. The developing embryos or eggs in the right side are carried anterior to those on the left. The left oviduct may be lacking in some [[Snake Taxonomy|taxa]] of snakes including Typhlopidae.

The oviduct is divided into infundibulum, magnum (secretes albumin), “uterus” (secretes membrane and in some species of viviparous snakes serves for placentation) and vagina. There is a region of mucosal folds and alveolar glands in the cranial oviduct, the receptaculum seminis, that serves for sperm storage allowing continued fertility from one insemination. The oviducts empty into the urodeum through the urogenital papillae. The developing embryos or eggs in the right side are carried anterior to those on the left. The left oviduct may be lacking in some [[Snake Taxonomy|taxa]] of snakes including Typhlopidae.

*Find out more about [[Lizard and Snake Dystocia|dystocia]] in snakes.  

*Find out more about [[Lizard and Snake Dystocia|dystocia]] in snakes.  

==Testes==

==Testes==

The testes are usually elongated and light-coloured, and consist of seminiferous tubules, interstitial cells, blood vessels and connective tissue. They are situated intracoelomically generally between the pancreas/spleen/gall bladder and the kidneys with the right cranial to the left (see [[Lizard and Snake Excretion|lizard and snake excretion]]). Their size is dependent on the season. An epididymis may be lacking.  Sperm may be stored in a bladder-like structure formed from part of the ureter. Sperm is produced in the seminiferous tubules, transported in the Wolffian ducts and discharged at the base of the hemipenes.

The testes are usually elongated and light-coloured, and consist of seminiferous tubules, interstitial cells, blood vessels and connective tissue. They are situated intracoelomically generally between the pancreas/spleen/gall bladder and the kidneys with the right cranial to the left (see [[Lizard and Snake Excretion|lizard and snake excretion]]). Their size is dependent on the season. An epididymis may be lacking.  Sperm may be stored in a bladder-like structure formed from part of the ureter. Sperm is produced in the seminiferous tubules, transported in the Wolffian ducts and discharged at the base of the hemipenes.

==Kidneys==

==Kidneys==

*For information on sexing snakes, see [[Snake Physical Examination|snake physical examination]]

*For information on sexing snakes, see [[Snake Physical Examination|snake physical examination]]

[[Category:Snake_Anatomy]]

[[Category:Snake_Anatomy]]