Hoarseness is generally caused by irritation of, or injury to, the vocal cords. The larynx (also referred to as the voice box), is the portion of the respiratory (breathing) tract containing the vocal cords. The vocal cords are two bands of muscle that form a V inside the larynx.
In some species babies are born alive. Other species lay eggs. In a strange combination of the two, some snakes have eggs that stay in their bodies until the eggs hatch and then the babies are born. Snakes can have anywhere from one to 150 baby snakes at a time.
Snakes that give birth to live young can produce as many young as those that lay eggs: the Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) can produce 40 or more at one time! A snake which retains her eggs is looking after them and sacrifices much. The eggs take up body space so she doesn'tât eat much, if at all.