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Temperate zone snakes have two reproductive patterns, prenuptual and postnuptual.

In postnuptual spermatogensis, the male sex organs' greatest weight is in the autumn because of sperm formation in summer and fall. Mating takes place in spring using sperm stored overwinter. Most colubrids, some viperids, and some elapids show this pattern or some variation of it.

In prenuptual spermatogensis, the male sex organs' greatest weight is in the spring. Mating takes place relatively late to allow for sperm formation. Snakes showing prenuptual spermatogensis include some elapids from Australia, a few colubrids from Morocco, and a viperid from the Sahara.

See pp. 211-213 in Seigel and Ford (1987).

Seigel, Richard A., and Neil B. Ford. 1987. Reproductive ecology. Pp. 210-252 in Seigel, Richard A., Joseph Collins, and Susan S. Novak (eds.). Snakes: ecology and evolutionary biology. MacMillan, New York. 529 pp. ISBN 0-02-947830-8.

>>In postnuptual spermatogensis, the male sex organs' greatest weight is in the autumn because of sperm formation in summer and fall. Mating takes place in spring using sperm stored overwinter. Most colubrids, some viperids, and some elapids show this pattern or some variation of it.
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Paul,

This would imply that brumation isn't necessary for males. Is that a reasonable inference? And what about females' reproductive changes--seasonality? effects of brumation?

the information's greatly appreciated.

terry

Some species, such as garter snakes, have a fall mating season as well as a spring mating season.

IMHO, there is a lot we do not understand about the factors that trigger courtship and mating. Changes in the testes and ovaries are only part of it.

I'll have to check that paper again for timing of egg formation.

Paul Hollander

Eggs of temperate zone snakes generally have either prenuptual or postnuptual schedule, too. Prenuptual egg formation happens before mating. Postnuptual egg formation starts in the summer/fall, are held overwinter, and finish growing in the spring. Seigel and Ford didn't have a good breakdown of which snakes have prenuptual and postnuptual egg formation.

Seigel and Ford say that rising temperatures in the spring are a major influence in bringing on mating season in temperate zone snakes.

Paul Hollander