7 Snakes That Give Live Birth (As Opposed to Eggs)

Written by Brandi Allred
Updated: December 28, 2023
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Do snakes lay eggs? Yes! But, it may surprise or fascinate you to learn that many species of snakes give live birth. Snakes are ectothermic reptiles that rely on the sun’s heat to warm their bodies; unlike humans, they cannot regulate their body temperatures. So, you might assume that, like many reptiles, all snakes lay eggs.

Unfortunately, you would be wrong. Not only do some snakes not lay eggs, but those same snakes also give birth to live babies, as mammals do. But why do some snakes lay eggs, and others give birth to live snakelets (baby snakes)?

Here, we’ll explore the different ways snakes reproduce, then take a closer look at seven species of snake known for giving birth to live young.

7 Snakes That Give Live Birth

Wait, Don’t Snakes Lay Eggs?

There are two basic ways to make baby snakes. The first is called oviparous reproduction. In oviparous reproduction, male snakes fertilize the eggs inside female snakes. These eggs then develop inside the female until they’re reasonably sized and have the leathery shells you expect from snakes. She then lays the eggs, usually in a nest or an abandoned burrow. Depending on the species, she will either leave them or guard them and keep them warm until the snakelets hatch.

The second means of creating more snakes is called ovoviviparous reproduction. Snakes that give live birth are ovoviviparous. In these species, males fertilize eggs which then develop inside the female. But, instead of laying eggs when they’re appropriately developed, the female incubates them internally. Each of the babies is surrounded by a thin membrane and each has its own yolk. Then, when they’re ready, she gives birth to her young.

What Kind of Snakes Give Live Birth?

Among them are most vipers, boas, anacondas, most water snakes and all sea snakes except for a single genus. 

Let’s take a closer look at seven snakes that give live birth.

1. Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus)

common death adder curled up on rocks

Death adders have wide, flat heads and vertical, elliptical pupils.

©iStock.com/Ken Griffiths

These snakes live in the Australian states of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. Death adders are restricted to the coastal lands of southern and eastern Australia but also live in Papua New Guinea. They’re highly venomous yet non-aggressive. They have the longest fangs of any snake in Australia.

Death adders are ovoviviparous and can birth up to 30 snakelets per birth. Their primary threats are habitat loss and population loss due to the invasive cane toad.

2. Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

The western diamondback

rattlesnake

has special heat-sensing pits to find prey in the dark.

©Alexander Wong/Shutterstock.com

One of the largest rattlesnakes in the world, the western diamondback lives throughout the desert southwest regions of the United States and Mexico. It is highly recognizable both by the brown and tan diamond markings along its backs and noisy rattles. 

Western diamondbacks typically carry their young for around six months before giving birth to 10-20 live snakelets. Baby western diamondbacks begin hunting after they absorb the remainder of their yolk and after their first shed, usually in about 9-11 days.

3. Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus)

Biggest Snakes: The Green Anaconda

Baby green anacondas are nearly two feet long at birth.

©Patrick K. Campbell/Shutterstock.com

The green anaconda is one of the biggest snakes in the world. Green anacondas can grow to nearly twenty feet long and can weigh over 150 pounds. Despite their huge size, they’re not venomous, relying instead on constricting their prey to death. They just might be one of the largest snakes that give live birth. 

Luckily for anyone afraid of big snakes, green anacondas only live in South America. They’re semi-aquatic and spend most of their lives in the tepid waters of rivers, swamps, and wetlands.

4. Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)

Ribbon Snake vs Garter Snake - Eastern Ribbon Snake

The garter snake is small and harmless to humans.

©Steve Bower/Shutterstock.com

Garter snakes are one of the most common snakes in North America. They’re generally known as harmless, though their venom is deadly against small reptiles and amphibians. Most have brown, yellow, or pale green sides and backs, with yellow stripes running from head to tail. 

Like most snakes that give live birth, garter snakes leave their mother soon after birth. Snakelets are typically around six inches long and grow to about two feet long as adults.

5. Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii)

Yellow Animal – Eyelash viper

This pit viper is small and beautiful but venemous.

©Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock.com

One of the prettier species of viper, the eyelash viper lives in South and Central America. It is a highly venomous member of the pit viper family characterized by a set of scales above the eyes, resembling eyelashes. 

These slender snakes come in an endless number of colors and patterns, including gray, yellow, tan, red, green, and brown. with snakelets measuring between 7-8 inches in length. Like most vipers, they eat mostly small birds and amphibians.

6. Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Hydrophis platurus)

Most Venomous Snakes in the World - Yellow-bellied Sea Snake

Yellow-bellied sea snakes give birth to live snakelets at sea.

©Ken Griffiths/Shutterstock.com

Yes, all snakes can swim. There are snakes, like the yellow-bellied sea snake, that spend most of their lives in the water. Yellow-bellied sea snakes live in every ocean except the Atlantic. Like all sea snakes, these snakes give birth to live young. Females carry the snakelets for about six months before heading to shallow tidal pools to give birth.

Yellow-bellied sea snakes are two-toned, with black backs and yellow bellies. They have flattened tails that help them swim, as well as potent venom used to incapacitate fish. They don’t grow very big, with the biggest females reaching around three feet, but their bite certainly packs a punch. 

7. Common Boa (Boa constrictor)

Best Pet Snake option - boa constrictor

Boa constrictors give birth to up to 60 snakelets at a time.

©Natalia Kuzmina/Shutterstock.com

Native to the lush tropical forests of South America, the boa constrictor is one of the largest snakes in the world. It can grow to nearly 15 feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds. Moreover, it is a popular pet in the world, and can grow to enormous proportions in captivity. 

Female boas gestate their young for about four months before giving birth to around 30 snakelets. Out of all the snakes that give live birth, the boa has some of the biggest babies. At birth, boa constrictors are over a foot long.

Other Reptiles That Give Birth to Live Young

Lizard Lifespan How Long Do Lizards Live Cover image

Some types of geckos give birth to live babies.

©reptiles4all/Shutterstock.com

In addition to snakes, other reptiles that give birth to live young include many species of lizards and turtles. Skinks are an example of a reptile that can lay eggs or bear offspring alive. Certain types of geckos also reproduce this way.

The reproductive process in slow worms is even more remarkable than in other reptiles that give birth to live young. Slow worms, which are technically lizards, lay eggs that hatch within their body, and then the offspring emerge from the mother’s cloaca. This is a unique form of reproduction for reptiles, and it has been studied extensively by biologists. It’s an interesting evolutionary adaptation as it allows slow worms to inhabit different climates without having to worry about incubating or caring for their young after they have hatched from eggs.

Summary of the 7 Snakes That Give Live Birth (As Opposed to Eggs)

IndexSpeciesAverage Length
1Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus)31 – 36 in
2Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)4 – 6 ft
3Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus)20 ft (female)
4Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)18 – 26 in
5Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii)22 – 32 in
6Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Hydrophis platurus)3 ft
7Common Boa (Boa constrictor)6.9 – 9.8 ft (female)
Table of the 7 Snakes That Give Live Birth (As Opposed to Eggs)

What is the Largest Snake Ever Found?

artist rendering of a titanboa

The titanboa is the largest snake ever found.

©Daniel Eskridge/Shutterstock.com

Like something directly out of a horror film or from one of the colossal Godzilla fights, the extinct and aptly named titanboa is the absolute largest snake in which scientists have ever found remains. It is estimated that this massive beast could perhaps reach an amazing length of forty-eight feet. It is also believed to have weighed around sixteen hundred pounds but could have weighed up to two thousand five hundred pounds! For comparison, the heaviest anaconda on record weighed around eight hundred eighty pounds.

The titanboa has been categorized into the Boidae family, which also holds anacondas and other boas. These snakes all have many similarities, but the size is what really sets the “titan boa” apart! The full scientific name is Titanoboa cerrejonensis, with the latter word being taken from the La Guajira mines in Colombia, South America.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Natalia Kuzmina/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Brandi is a professional writer by day and a fiction writer by night. Her nonfiction work focuses on animals, nature, and conservation. She holds degrees in English and Anthropology, and spends her free time writing horror, scifi, and fantasy stories.

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