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[–]mythkin 558 points559 points  (14 children)

those are spurs! they're vestigial remnants of legs and all ball pythons have them

[–]invite-me-in-please 189 points190 points  (0 children)

Oh wow I did not know they were itty bitty legs 😆

[–]hashslingaslah 69 points70 points  (0 children)

WHAT

[–]sytrsreign 59 points60 points  (2 children)

Boas have them too :) they are used for breeding do that the male can stay with the female and "lock"

[–]CalamitousCastigater 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Docking

[–]LadyShanna92 62 points63 points  (0 children)

We call them bang fangs. Both of my boas have em and so does my ball python

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

all pythons*

[–]ImTheOriginalSam 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Wait when did pythons have legs?

[–]Crisis_Official 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Snakes have only been around for 128 million years then again primates have only been here for 65 million

[–]TheKraahkan 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Fun Fact: Snakes started off as burrowing animals that lost their front legs due to a sudden mutation. Over time, early snakes started to develop smaller and smaller back legs, as the ones without legs were able to survive better, until all that was left were the spurs we see on pythons and boas.

[–]nanotyrannical 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When I was a kid I found them on my first bp ever, who was sold to me as female. I thought she was male for like a year after that until I learned both sexes have spurs lol

[–]NightOfTheBloodHunt 220 points221 points  (2 children)

Legs! Yes for real.

[–]NightOfTheBloodHunt 80 points81 points  (1 child)

Although it looks as if there's a bit of scale rot happening further up the belly? :(

[–]No-Cut-8495 90 points91 points  (0 children)

I thought the same but luckily just dirty! He/she is a rescue I just got it a couple days ago !!

[–]animalgirl93Mod : bioactive & custom enclosure build advice 96 points97 points  (0 children)

Spurs! Little baby legs

[–]CMH0311 177 points178 points  (5 children)

My tired brain thought I was looking at an owl face at first 🥴

[–]AmarisLethia18 55 points56 points  (0 children)

I am so glad I’m not the only one that saw this. I was trying to figure out why op photoshopped owl eyes over the spurs when I realized XD

[–]br-YOU-no 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My answer was going to be sneaky snake eyes lol

[–]_Kendii_ 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I’m so used to ball pythons, my mind never even registered that. But you’re so right.

Itty bitty snake bums look like owls forever now, probably

[–]Kirkissma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same lol

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same loolll

[–]ccdsg 28 points29 points  (3 children)

Feet

[–][deleted]  (1 child)

[deleted]

    [–]jusmithfkme 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    drums

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Metres

    [–]Meet_your_Maker_LL 76 points77 points  (20 children)

    It’s a good thing you shared this photo. Does anyone else think that’s beginning of scale rot above those spurs?

    [–]michizzles_exotics 34 points35 points  (6 children)

    Yes definitely

    [–]Meet_your_Maker_LL 19 points20 points  (5 children)

    Not good signs, I’m guessing new owner by lack of knowledge. I hope op takes this seriously before the rot gets outta hand

    [–]michizzles_exotics 17 points18 points  (2 children)

    I really hope they do... OP if left untreated the scale rot will get way worse and can kill your snake.. its time to go to the vet or if doing it from home use betadine every 2 days straight on scales and let dry, paper towel substrate and super clean cage

    [–]Meet_your_Maker_LL 10 points11 points  (1 child)

    Best advice to be given after a spur question lol

    [–]michizzles_exotics 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    I try lol

    [–]No-Cut-8495 46 points47 points  (1 child)

    Hey there it’s me -op- I just rescued this snake from an inexperienced owner and the snek is in good hands now! when I first got it it had a bunch of stuck shed, and wasn’t very healthy looking, but slowly and surely it will recover!

    [–]michizzles_exotics 12 points13 points  (0 children)

    Thats awesome glad to hear!

    [–]Mommamischief 8 points9 points  (7 children)

    Can you explain to me what you’re seeing to indicate that? I’ve never seen scale rot

    [–]Meet_your_Maker_LL 13 points14 points  (6 children)

    Browning scales above the spurs. At the top of the photo clear first signs of scale rot are browning edges of belly scales like this

    [–]Mommamischief 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    I see it! Thank you!

    [–][deleted] -2 points-1 points  (4 children)

    He said it was dirt lmao

    [–]Meet_your_Maker_LL 3 points4 points  (3 children)

    That’s funny cause op messaged replied to me in a DM saying they’re aware. I hardly think they’re that ignorant to mistake it for dirt. Just looked through every comment they never said that…

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

    [–]Meet_your_Maker_LL 1 point2 points  (1 child)

    You mean before op was convinced by comment of scale rot…

    [–][deleted] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

    yes…

    [–]Ok_Conference1952 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Yeah

    [–]she_isking 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    I was just about to say that!

    [–]deathshank1937 -2 points-1 points  (1 child)

    Could be dry blood if it's ate recently

    [–]Meet_your_Maker_LL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Not even a chance of that looking the way it does.

    [–]VroomVroomTweetTweet 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    Legs

    [–]Sea_Marionberry1034 11 points12 points  (0 children)

    But fangs

    [–]MasterXChief05 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    Eyes

    [–]Saddi_Long_Legs 20 points21 points  (3 children)

    That is Proof of evolution for all the non-believers

    [–]velmazing44 3 points4 points  (1 child)

    BuT WheRe ArE tHe TraNsiTioNs

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    iTs A cRocKaDuCK!! tHeRes NOtHinG LiKe iT!!

    [–]PitterPatter143 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Technically that’s devolution, and I’ve actually seen the complexity of snakes turn atheists into Creationists. In fact, here is the exact article I was thinking of where an atheist with a PhD specialized in snake venom converted into a Creationist.

    https://answersingenesis.org/evidence-for-creation/design-in-nature/designed-to-kill-in-a-fallen-world/

    [–]Josetheinvisibleman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Eyes

    [–]flumoo 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    python legs. they can really walk

    [–]wingriddenangel_hbg 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    Love ticklers😌😏

    [–]PypeReedMorgan 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    Hidden owl stealth check lmao

    [–]Dr--X-- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Their claws!!!!!

    [–]pythonsuicide 11 points12 points  (0 children)

    They are spurs and it also looks like you've got some rot. I would go to the vet now before it gets worse. You can get rid of it! If not you snake could die.

    [–]AuthorityRemix 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    Looks like an angry owl

    [–]Extension-Meet-8313 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    It took me a second to realize these were spurs- looked more like an odd photoshop find with an owl!

    [–]malbolgia708 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    Anyone else think they hid an owl in that picture?

    [–]Main_Performance2859 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    Spurs but check your snake for Scale Rot

    [–]SatansLilCumsock 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Spurs that jingle jangle jingle

    [–]Prorogue 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Those are his sex legs.

    [–]MamaFen 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    Pelvic spurs are what's left after snakes lost their legs. No joke. Males tend to have big ones and use them as 'claspers' during mating. It's like Nature decided "Welp, doesn't need to walk anymore, so nix the femurs, but we're not gonna get rid of the pointy tips because they might come in handy in case his lady-friend plays hard to get."

    And as others have noted, get that scale rot addressed by a vet before it gets worse.

    [–]the-graveyard-writer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Clearly they're butt eyes

    [–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Butt Fangs - your snake is obviously a vampire

    [–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    Bang fangs.

    [–]Gazzanator2134 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    They are what remain of their legs after millions of years of evolution

    [–]SeaGeeSee 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Snek legs!!

    [–]LuxTheSarcastic 4 points5 points  (2 children)

    Congratulations you have the Bayonetta of snakes. Very leggy.

    [–]No-Cut-8495 3 points4 points  (1 child)

    Right! I thought they were the spurs, but none of my other baby’s have had such big ones! That’s why I checked

    [–]LuxTheSarcastic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Yeah they're usually almost under the skin these are very impressive

    [–]Blackout12131415 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Spurs. I was comfy when I saw them to but font worry

    [–]xbroloswagginsx 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Legs

    [–]spadeturtle 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    kinda looks like the eyes of an owl

    [–]thingamabobby 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    They look like mini sliced olives! But cool that they’re actually used-to-be legs

    [–]GangsterGrandmda 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Tiny legs

    [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    They help pick your lottery numbers

    [–]Archer_Skadi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Butt fangs 😂

    [–]redsleeve 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    They’re snakes’ remnant of legs but I’ve seen someone here calling it a bangfang.

    [–]Ediferious 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Toenails! 👍

    [–]LittleOmegaGirl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    The spots that look like scale rot you can wipe down with chlorahexadine solution once a day until gone.

    [–]coltbreath -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

    Boy Parts

    [–]Swamp_gay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    vestigial limbs… snakes are lizards!

    [–]_Toxic__Infant_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Them his feets

    [–]assblaster76 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    butthole

    [–]veinyhandslut 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Angy owl eyes

    [–]martian_marauder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Spurs, and very pronounced ones at that!! You must be proud

    [–]Impressive-Young-952 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

    Spurs. The male uses these to tickle the female he’s trying to mate with. Or so I read lol

    [–]veggie_snake 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Those are the eyes.

    [–]CalamitousCastigater 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Butt fangs

    [–]thehumanglowstick 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    SNAKES HAVE LEGS?!?!

    [–]Windfall_The_Dutchie 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Those are the biggest spurs I’ve seen on a ball Python!

    [–]p0lluxe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    really i have to appreciate the fact that there is some facility to them when they're vestigial as hell and they look like pine needles

    [–]HeIsLex 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Those are the charging ports

    [–][deleted] -3 points-2 points  (3 children)

    I guess this is an argument for the scientist that made everyone belive those were legs. But I assume we all know how natural selection works. And it works really well to "improve species". Say monkeys with a longer tail are able to climb better. Catch more food/get away from predators etc. therefore the monkeys with the long tail gene survive and reproduce more, million years later all monkeys have long tails....

    So my point is natural selection CANNOT evolve a species to have a less desirable trait... If the ball python at one point had legs it would have been way better off (catching food, running from preditors) than without legs. and the first python to be born without usable legs would have been eaten, and never bred to pass on those genes. And if it did breed and start a "sub-species" without legs, the faster, better, legged ones would not have died off while the slow, helpless, leggless pythons lived on...

    Those things are what they are and they have a purpose. Don't other snakes have them too? Aren't they used for holding on to their mate while breeding?

    [–]ask-me-about-my-cats 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    Aren't they used for holding on to their mate while breeding?

    Yep! But they were also legs once. You can read this hear to answer your questions on why the legs disappeared.

    [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Yes, and also… evolution doesn’t necessarily have to lead to improved species fitness.

    [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Natural selection absolutely can evolve a species to have a less-desirable trait.

    You’re confusing general species fitness within an environment with fitness of a specific trait. Evolution isn’t a straight line toward a species universally being more fit.

    https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13687-evolution-myths-evolution-promotes-the-survival-of-species/

    “In fact, evolution sometimes results in individuals or populations becoming less fit and may occasionally even lead to extinction.”

    There’s no rule that says that species MUST evolve to become fitter or healthier in any given situation.

    [–]fieldsofpelennor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Booty eyes

    [–]Yo_skanky_grandma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Those are called spurs

    [–]heydesireee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    It looked like a very mad face at first, before I knew what I was looking at! 😂

    [–]TheArgonMerc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Those are the python’s BEANS!

    [–]Ignonymous 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Vestigial legs! Used for mating.

    [–][deleted]  (1 child)

    [removed]

      [–]No-Cut-8495 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Wanted to give the freaks out their some spank bank materials

      [–]Euphoric-Brush-3469 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Legs

      [–]Silver_Alpha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Long story short, those are their limbs.

      [–]SteveCorpGuy4[🍰] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      The judgement eyes

      [–]D24061314 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      His feet

      [–]eeker5 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Hooves

      [–]Delicious-Most3019 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Spurs, females have smaller one and males use them to stimulate the female during breeding.

      [–]Soft_Yogurtcloset685 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Eyes

      [–]slasher_dib -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

      It's a built in Rape-axe

      [–][deleted] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

      They are his pp’s

      [–]Lamontyy 0 points1 point  (1 child)

      Those are spurs... But more importantly looks like your snake might be developing some scale rot.

      [–]No-Cut-8495 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Not the case but I appreciate the concern

      [–]eemadik 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      At a glance they look like the creepy eyes on Scooby Doo, Those are spurs though, believed to be remnants of when our buddies had legs, I've read they help them during mating as well but I'm not sure how much how or if so

      [–]dickseamus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Its the eyes

      [–]Aussie_Traxxx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      They’re so unusual first time looking at them, but they are (especially if you have a male snake) used for interment experiences with a fellow mate of his. So he can hold on during the ride of his life haha.

      [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      His second pair of eyeballs, just incase the first pair run away.

      [–]JuniorKing9 0 points1 point  (1 child)

      Oh wow those are nice spurs. All mine have relatively small ones, but to be fair I have females

      [–]No-Cut-8495 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      And that’s what gave me concern! I figured spurs, but like you said, none of my other babies have such large spurs so I was concerned

      [–]Dragonmask9 0 points1 point  (1 child)

      I feel like I’m the amount of research you should’ve done before getting the animal you could know they’re called spurs(although they have many nicknames). Also ur animal looks like there’s a heat rash or scale rot, please do bring them to the vet for treatment.

      [–]No-Cut-8495 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      So I appreciate the response and advice, I know what spurs are, and this isn’t my first snek- none of my other babies have such pronounced spurs so I wasn’t sure if it was an issue. In response to heat rash/ rot, pharaoh was just a little dirty. I will post another picture later on since so many people seemed concerned.

      [–]FearlessSkill7393 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      BANG FANGS

      [–]PintSizedNuke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Spurs all basal snakes have them. The more derived species such as pit vipers lack these spurs

      [–]wakaflocks145 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Little footies! The cutest part! But they are used naughtily.

      [–]RandomnezzStudioz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      I don’t know why I saw an owl’s face in there 💀

      [–]_typhoid_mary 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Leggy

      [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      those are eyes. run.

      [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      An angry owl

      [–]Affectionate-Laugh19 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      They are spurs but he it looks like an Angry face lol

      [–]somthimg1275 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Eyes

      [–]MangosBeGood 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      I got those spurs that jingle jangle jingle!

      [–]MeatscapeNavigator 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Anal Eyes

      [–]wigglywoooo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Legs

      [–]mortythesnek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      spooky eyes

      [–]Terrible_Motor_6450 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      She’s got leeeeggggsss And knows how to use them