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males sex organ.

grogansilver Dec 08, 2008 04:20 AM

I am not sure what there called but i want to know is it possable to see the males 2 claws by his anus because i could swear even mine as a baby i looked really close and i think i see two claws,is this possable? and does the two claws deffinatly mean its a male?.

Replies (7)

ArizonaB Dec 08, 2008 09:39 AM

They are called cloacal spurs, they are the remnants of what use to be hind limbs. And actually both males and females have spurs, the males are much bigger because he uses them to stimulate the female during breeding. Good question.
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Brian Grosart
foreverconstrictors@gmail.com

grogansilver Dec 08, 2008 09:54 AM

thanks.

fgs Dec 08, 2008 12:54 PM

I took this shot a few days ago. I was hoping to get a photo of actual copulation. This photo shows the male spur extended. The two snakes are probably breeding, but I just couldn't get the right angle. There are times where you will actually see the male extend the spur and run it right down the side of the female, sometimes causing visible scratches.

Good luck with your season.

Brian

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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

ArizonaB Dec 08, 2008 09:49 AM

Here is a more visual guide. I could not find a pic of a females' spurs but I think you get the Idea.

-----
Brian Grosart
foreverconstrictors@gmail.com

charmer Dec 08, 2008 07:02 PM

The male sex organ(s) are called Hemipenes, there are two of them
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
1.0 Probable Super Salmontine(Kahn)
0.1 Salmontine (Sonya)
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0.0.1 Hypo het anery
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1.0.1 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.0 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal(deceased)
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0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
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Pythons...
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1.2 Carpet Pythons (Jackson, Charlotte, & Cassandra)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
1.2 Children's Pythons
Misc.
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rainbowsrus Dec 09, 2008 11:41 AM

One point I'm surprised nobody raised is....

Spurs are a good "indicator" of sex but not totally reliable, some males will have smaller spurs while some females will have longer ones.

So the answer to your questions is, no - the two "claws" does not mean it is for sure a male.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Kelly_Haller Dec 09, 2008 02:33 PM

the structure of the spur and the position on the body. Males have mainly an external, easily seen, relatively flat spur with a wide base coming to a point similar in shape to a claw. The female spur has a pointed, slightly curved conical shape and is mostly recessed into the body down in a cavity. It cannot be seen well without pushing the scales back. It takes some practice and a good eye, but even newborn boas can be 100% accurately sexed by spur shape using a magnifying device.

Kelly

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