Popping Adult Male Ball Python

ID: Popping Adult Male Ball Python

Remarks:
Some adult male snakes will allow themselves to be "popped." Here an adult male ball python allows the bases of his hemipenes to protrude in response to pressure on his tail. Upon seeing even this much of the hemipenes, a keeper can be assured that this is a male snake. The problem is that adult males may not allow any even partial eversion of their hemipenes in response to pressure. The brown substance on the hemipenial base on the right side of the photo is the "musk" from the one of the paired scent glands that are in the base of the tail of nearly all snakes. Pushing on the base of the tail often compress the scent glands in the tail of either sex, causing them to expel a small amount of their secretion. Note the spur of this male ball python, visible on the margin of the cloaca on the right side of the photo. Actually, for a male ball python, it's a slender spur showing little wear. It does have a lot of inward hook, typical of males.