How to differentiate a male and female turtle?

As you've probably noticed, turtles don't have external reproductive organs. So how can you tell if a turtle is male or female?

Although it requires more or less precise attention and knowledge, and above all varies depending on the species of turtle , it is possible to learn how to determine the sex of a turtle.

What are the essential elements for distinguishing a male turtle from a female turtle?

We have listed the most important points that will need to be examined in a turtle to determine its sex:

1. The shell

From the softest and flattest (like the Triasochelyds) to the domed and extremely hard ones of the giant land turtles, if there is one thing that is particularly representative of a turtle, it is the fact that it has a shell.

However, this can differ slightly, depending on whether it is a male or a female : in the latter, the shell will be longer than in her male partners. This may seem very simple said like that, but in reality, this method of discernment quickly finds its limits: it is difficult to know if the specimen will continue to grow or not, and it is not an absolute rule, because some representatives of the same sex and the same species, at the same age, will still have more or less long shells.

2. The breastplate

The shell, which, although appearing to be made of a single block, is in reality very often made up of several separate scales welded together. And the set of plates below the belly is called the plastron .

Of course, examining the subtle differences in the plastron of a giant Seychelles tortoise is somewhat more complicated than for a small aquatic turtle weighing 100 grams... But if we have the possibility, this observation can provide us with valuable information about the sex of the turtle :

• To facilitate his task during mating, where he finds himself on top of the female, the male generally has ventral plates that are slightly hollowed inwards. While the female tends to have a rather flat or even convex plastron, which allows her more space for her future eggs.
• If you see a small V-shaped indentation on the tail, there's also a good chance it's a male . This also has practical mating reasons: without this notch, his tail would risk being crushed when he mounts his female.

3. The tail

It has been said that turtles have no visible sexual organs. But then, do you know where a turtle's genitals are located? In its tail! Also, males , compared to females, have a rather long and thick tail that accommodates their reproductive organ. This information still does not offer absolute certainty as to the sex of the specimen observed, but it can be very useful in confirming or denying a hypothesis, especially when two specimens are compared.

4. The claws

Not always very impressive to look at, you may not have noticed them... But turtles do have claws. And these can be very useful to them, whether for courtship displays or for defense. This explains why male specimens will have rather long front claws compared to females; and this difference can sometimes be obvious in certain species.

5. The cesspool

The what? Turtles, regardless of their sex, all have an opening below their tail, called a " cloaca ." But the shape and precise location of the latter can vary more or less depending, this time, on the sex of the individual: in the male, it is rather long, like a slit, towards the end of its tail. In the female , on the other hand, it will be more rounded or even pleated or star-shaped. It will also be closer to the body and often - depending on its position - difficult to see because of its shell.

6. Species-specific differences

The first five points are general guidelines for determining the sex of a turtle specimen with varying degrees of certainty. However, there are specific characteristics specific to each species that make sexing them more or less easy. A counter-example to all these considerations is provided by a sea turtle that shows absolutely no external physical aspect that would allow the sex of an individual to be differentiated, even for a specialist.

And on the other hand, some species have very clear differences depending on their sex, like the painted turtle which has blue on its belly if and only if it is a male; or the Terrapene whose female will have brown/yellow eyes with a round shell , unlike the male which will have orange or even red eyes with a more elongated dorsal shell.

So, determining the sex of your reptile: possible?

As you may have noticed, none of these methods for discerning turtle sex alone provides a definitive or definitive answer . The differences between the sexes vary in their subtlety from species to species, and even an expert would have to cross-reference several of these observations and examine the turtle carefully to reach a reliable conclusion.

There are several general factors that can make the task even more difficult:

• Age : The specimen must be fully adult before any truly reliable conclusion can be drawn.
• The species , as previously mentioned
• Comparison : It is often much easier to determine the sex of an individual when it is compared to another, whose sex is already known, in order to examine the differences.

A whole science, which, if you want to apply it to your turtles, will require rigorous observation and cross-checking of information. And depending on the case, it will be better to turn to a veterinarian to be sure of the sex of your shelled companion. And be careful when handling a turtle: not liking to be turned over, it risks biting you, and it is therefore advisable to lift it by holding its shell at the back, at the tail, and to handle it delicately to avoid the risk of injuring it!

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