The question of what to call a female snake leads directly to the observation that, unlike many common domesticated animals, reptiles generally lack gender-specific common names. The terminology used in herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians, is far less standardized in everyday English compared to the terms like “cow” for a female bovine or “hen” for a female chicken. The most accurate and widely accepted terminology is a simple description of the animal’s sex.
The Terminology for Female Snakes
The common term for a female snake is simply “female snake” or often just “female” when the species is understood. This straightforward nomenclature exists because there is no universally accepted, unique English noun for the female of the species. The lack of a distinct term contrasts with the gendered nouns found in the language for many domesticated mammals and birds.
In highly specialized circles, particularly among large constrictor breeders, the term “queen” is occasionally used. This usage is most often applied to particularly large, breeding-capable female pythons or boas, and refers more to their reproductive status than a formal classification. However, this is not standard scientific or common language. Scientific literature and professional herpetologists consistently use the modifier “female” to denote sex rather than a distinct noun.
Terms for Male and Juvenile Snakes
Consistent with the female nomenclature, male snakes are typically referred to as “male snakes” or simply “males.” There is no single, unique term like “bull” or “rooster” used across all species to designate the adult male. This uniform approach simplifies communication across the thousands of snake species found globally.
The terminology for young snakes is more varied and depends on their developmental stage and birth method. Newborn snakes that hatch from eggs are commonly called “hatchlings.” Snakes born live (in ovoviviparous or viviparous species) are often referred to as “neonates.” Once past the immediate post-birth stage but not yet sexually mature, they are frequently called “juveniles” or, less formally, “snakelets.”
Identifying Sex in Snakes (Sexual Dimorphism)
Since common names do not differentiate the sexes, herpetologists and experienced keepers rely on physical distinctions, known as sexual dimorphism, to determine gender. One widespread difference relates to the tail structure. Males typically possess relatively longer tails than females of the same body length to accommodate the paired copulatory organs, called hemipenes, and their retractor muscles.
The tail length is often measured relative to the snout-vent length (SVL) for accurate comparison. In many species, females are generally the larger sex overall, often linked to the reproductive advantage of carrying more eggs or developing young. These external differences are subtle and not always reliable for definitive sexing. For absolute determination, professionals use technical methods like “probing,” which involves inserting a specialized instrument into the cloaca to detect the depth of the hemipenal pockets, or “popping,” which involves manually everting the hemipenes in younger animals.