What Is a Female Snake Called?

Snakes are known simply as “males” or “females,” with no name distinction between them based on gender. Young snakes, however, do have separate designations of “snakelet” for a baby, “neonate” for a newly-born offspring or “hatchling” for a newly-hatched snake.

Gender-specific characteristics of snakes are difficult to ascertain from exterior appearances. Depending on the species of snake, there are subtle recognizable differences. Male snakes generally have a longer and thicker tale than females. The thinner and shorter female tail tapers more smoothly and evenly. For example, male queen snakes have tails with an average of 76 subcaudal scutes, while female queen snakes have an average of only 69.