How to determine the sex of a turtle?

Unfortunately, authentically determine the sex of the turtleat purchase it is impossible - too she still young. Usually the difference between males and females in most turtles, which are kept as pets, becomes visible only at the age of 6-8 years, when the length of the shell reaches 10-11 cm. But even in these conditions, determining the sex of a turtle can be difficult for the layman.

You can determine the sex of the tortoise by some external differences between males and females, and it can be done much more accurately if you have the opportunity to compare two turtles. In females of most of the terrestrial and part of aquatic turtles, the plastron (abdominal shield of the shell) is flat, while in the males it is concave. In some species of turtles (for example, in Chilean), the distance between the plastron and carapace (the dorsal shield of the shell) is greater in females than in males.

In males, the carapace often has a more elongated and narrow shape, while in females it is shorter and more rounded. Also worth paying attention to the cloaca. The female cloak is at the end of the carapace and looks like an asterisk; in males it is located farther from the edge of the shell and has the form of a longitudinal line. In most turtles, females are larger than males, because they need to bore eggs, but in some species of turtles, on the contrary, males are larger.

You can try to determine the sex of the turtle on the tail. In males of all kinds of turtles, it is longer and thicker than in females. By the length and thickness of the tail can determine the sextwo-edged, painted decorated, radiant, coal (red-legged), elastic, shpornosnyh, South African beak-breasted, boxed (bordered, Amboinsky, Indo-Chinese), oblong, Burmese, small cruciferous turtles, and also the mountain turtle Spengler, dentate cunea, elsei, tortoise Forstena, Mulenberg turtles. In female forest cynics and Indian lobate turtle, the tail is almost invisible, and in males it is pronounced brightly.

Also, in males of some terrestrial turtles, femoral spurs are better expressed. A In many species of freshwater turtles, males have long claws on the front paws, while in females they are much shorter. These include, for example, a painted decorated turtle.

In some species of turtles, males differ from females by the color of the iris. Thus, in the males of the Karolin box-shaped turtles, the iris is bright red, and in females it is only slightly reddish. The mountain turtles of Spengler have females in the females, and the males have blue eyes.

Indirectly determine the sex of the turtle will help its behavior. In males, sexual behavior is more pronounced than in females. They pursue females, flirt, bite their neck, nod their head, inflate their throats, etc. But if your turtle lives in proud solitude, this method is unlikely to help you.

Also, many species of turtles have their own specific features, which make it possible to distinguish a male from a female. How to determine the sex of red-bellied turtles? In this case, pay attention to the claws and tail. The males have longer claws and a longer and thicker tail, as well as a more pointed and long nose. Males of red-bellied turtles are noticeably smaller than females.

Have European swamp turtles females are also usually larger than males. Plastron in females is flat or slightly convex, and in males - slightly concave. Also, males can "boast" a thicker and longer tail. Pay attention to the color of the turtle's eyes: males usually have brown eyes, and females have yellow eyes.

Already familiar criteria will help determine the gender the Far Eastern turtles (Chinese trionics). In this species of turtles, females are larger and larger than males, but males have a thicker and longer tail.

Unfortunately, to determine the sex of the turtle, until it reached puberty (and it takes several years), it is very difficult, and sometimes it is impossible. Yes, when a tortoise of sexual maturity reaches a layman, this task may not be possible, especially if the turtle has no one to compare with.