Snakes Can Store Sperm for up to 5 Years Before Getting Pregnant

There are many things about snake reproduction that appear bizarre, or even frightening to the human eye. Snake mating rituals often involve a single female being entangled with a handful of competing males, who all try to be the first to wrap themselves around her.

The sight seems straight out of a horror movie (or something you could make a death trap out of if said snakes are poisonous). However, what can be even stranger than that there is now proof that female snakes can hold on to the sperm without necessarily getting pregnant until a later time of their choosing.

How snakes store sperm is still a mystery

It is a rare occurrence that is thought to be theoretically possible but never actually been observed until very recently. It all began when scientists observe strange 'virgin birth' events, where snakes had suddenly laid eggs even without having any contact with a male for years. DNA samples were then taken and it was discovered that the offspring definitely carried genes of another parent. This led them to suspect that the female stored the sperm after mating.

Despite more study though, biologists are still puzzled as to the exact mechanisms that allow snakes to accomplish this feat. Some studies suggest that there are special cells somewhere near the female's reproductive organs that secrete sugars and proteins that keep the sperm alive.

Still, this only appears to be the case of snakes who can store sperm for as long as several months. On the other hand, other documented cases show snakes who have been storing sperm for even five years. To date, scientists are still pursuing these remaining secrets of the reptile's uncanny control over its own reproduction.

Snake births and mating season

The study of this peculiar aspect of snake mating habits is very important in the larger study of their populations. Links have been drawn between a snake delaying reproduction and the availability of food in the area. This means that birthing seasons could also go hand in hand with increased chances of snakes conflicting with humans in their search for prey. Female snakes that are either pregnant or in heat tend to be larger and have voracious appetites (with some species being reported to even eat their mates soon after the dance is done).

But as gruesome as it all sounds, it helps to remember that these same snakes play a vital role as predators of smaller (and often disease-carrying) animals. Proper handling of pregnant snakes is vital because a healthy presence in the ecosystem keeps things in balance.

And as a side note, these habits could also have interesting implications in the field of population management. Snakes are one of the few species known to have this level of natural control over their reproduction and how these are related to the dynamics of available food in the natural environment. Do these decisions affect entire ecosystems or is it the other way around? These are just some more of the many mysterious still yet to be solved regarding snake reproduction.