Whilst researching animal ultrasound, I realised that ultrasonography can be useful for a whole range of animals, including reptiles. Here, ultrasound imaging can be used similarly to that in other species, including to detect tumour growth, assess any blockages within the intestine and to confirm pregnancies. As ultrasound is non-invasive, able to produce high resolution images and is both easy and safe to carry out, it is easy to see why ultrasonography is the tool of choice for many reptile breeders.


In particular, snake breeding appears to heavily rely on ultrasound to enable the identification of follicles and the follicle length. Consequently, this article discusses how ultrasound imaging is performed on snakes, and further reveals the advantages ultrasonography can provide within the animal kingdom.


Snake ultrasound requires the use of a linear probe which allows superficial scanning. The gall bladder is used as an initial landmark, which can be identified as a black mass. The presence of follicles can then be detected straight after through ultrasound imaging. Consistently moving the probe reveals a circular black mass that represents the follicles, which can then be measured, helping the breeder to decide the optimal time to initiate mating. Ultrasonography is vitally important for snake breeding. The quality of a follicle can be easily detected using ultrasound that may otherwise not be identified solely through palpating (New England Reptile, 2011). In addition to determining the optimal mating time, a healthy follicular mass is easily distinguishable from one that is being reabsorbed using ultrasound, with reabsorption resulting in misshapen and pale coloured follicles.


In summary, it is clear that ultrasound imaging plays very important roles in snake breeding, allowing the detection and quality of the follicles required for successful pregnancy. Thus, it is apparent that the practical applications of ultrasound are almost limitless across both conventional and the more unconventional of animals.