Both sexes have spurs, but with boa constrictors it is the structure of the spur that can be used to sex them with 100% accuracy if you know what to look for. Males have external spurs all the way to the base that are laterally compressed so they will lie flat against the body. They will show a definite curve to their shape out near the tip similar to a cat claw, and are usually longer than they are wide at the base. Female spurs are recessed into the body and at best only the tip shows externally. To see the entire female spur, you will need to spread the surrounding scales back out from around it. Once you can see all of it, the female spur shows a shorter, more conical structure with very little curve to it. It's cross-section is more round, and is not flattened or side compressed like that of the male spur. With practice, even very young boa constrictors can be accurately sexed using spur structure differences with the help of a magnification device.

Kelly

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• spurs deffinately determine sex? - jayf, Sun Nov 13 02:11:32 2005
• In a nutshell.... - robertmcphee, Sun Nov 13 08:51:35 2005
• Its not the size of the spur that counts... its the motion of the ocean lol - vcaruso15, Sun Nov 13 09:55:54 2005
• I agree, I have females with spurs too..(more) - LauraV, Sun Nov 13 10:15:08 2005
• more with the "female" ... update - jayf, Sun Nov 13 11:23:33 2005
• Did you feel the balls roll with the male? If - LauraV, Sun Nov 13 13:28:42 2005
• RE: Did you feel the balls roll with the male? If - jayf, Sun Nov 13 13:36:28 2005
• I used - LauraV, Sun Nov 13 13:47:56 2005
• RE: I used - jayf, Sun Nov 13 15:01:44 2005
• Still talkin' about snakes..right? - dmac, Mon Nov 14 01:42:54 2005
• LOL Laura - koky6869, Sun Nov 13 13:13:37 2005
• RE: I agree, I have females with spurs too..(more) - cbreps, Sun Nov 13 18:10:23 2005
• It's not the presence or absence of spurs but rather their morphology...... - Kelly_Haller, Sun Nov 13 11:55:31 2005
• I agree with Kelly 1000% - Rainshadow, Sun Nov 13 13:05:05 2005
• thank you guys ... more - jayf, Sun Nov 13 13:40:53 2005