Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Examine the tortoise shell
• Method 2 of 2: Detailed Features
• Tips
• Warnings

If you have a turtle, it will be helpful for you to know what gender it is. However, unlike many mammals, turtles (which, in general, are not mammals) do not have external genital organs. This makes gender determination a more difficult task, which, however, can still be dealt with. It will be easier for you to determine the gender of a turtle if you use two different genders for comparison. If you only have one turtle, then you will need to study as many of the males and females as possible to determine gender.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Examine the tortoise shell

1. 1 Look at the tortoise shell. Turtle shells, or shells, differ slightly depending on gender. The carapace of an adult male is more elongated than that of an adult female.
   • When determining the sex of your turtle, this method can be quite limited because you have to make sure that the turtle is sexually mature. You may think it is a male, but in fact it turns out that the turtle has not yet reached its sexual maturity.
   • There can be differences between the size of a large male and a small female, which can make it impossible to determine the sex, especially if you have one individual.
2. 2 Examine the turtle's plastron. The plastron is the lower (abdominal) part of the shell. To examine the plastron, gently turn the turtle upside down with the plastron. They don't like to be upside down and may try to bite, so hold the tortoise by the edges of the shell at the tail to keep it out of reach. Turn the turtle over gently and look at the plastron. The plastron in the male is slightly concave (bends inward), while in the female it is flat.
   • The concave plastron of the male turtle allows the animal to hold onto the female during mating.
   • The flat shape of the female's plastron is associated with the need to bear eggs.
3. 3 Check for a notch in the turtle's tail. The male turtle has a V-shaped notch in the back of the shell. The notch for the tail is necessary for turtles to mate. Otherwise, the tail may be pressed against the plastron.
4. 4 Look at the specific features. Some species of turtles have characteristic sex differences in color:
   • American box turtle: In 90% of cases, the irises are red or orange in males and brown or yellow in females. In addition, females have a taller, domed, rounded carapace, while the male has a more flattened oval or oblong carapace.
   • Painted turtle: if the turtle's plastron is blue, it is a male, and if the plastron is of a different color than blue, it is a female.

Method 2 of 2: Detailed Features

1. 1 Examine the turtle's claws. Male turtles use their claws when mating with females. They also use their claws to fight and defend their territory. Thus, the claws on the forepaws are generally longer in males than in females. Again, this is more obvious when you have two turtles of different sexes to compare with each other.
   • The red marsh water turtle has a pronounced difference between the claws of the male and the female.
2. 2 Look at the turtle's cloaca. Males and females have a hole located at the bottom of the tail. It is called a cloaca; its location depends on the floor.
   • In the female, the cloaca is more round and has the shape of a star. It is close to the body, almost under the shell.
   • The cloaca in the male is longer and larger. It is located in the last third of the tail towards its tip.
3. 3 Estimate the length of the turtle's tail. The male genitals are located in the tail, and to accommodate them, the male's tail is usually longer and thicker than that of the female. The tail of females is shorter and thinner.
   • To determine the sex of a turtle using this method, you must know the size of the tail of the male or female. Otherwise, this method may be unreliable.
4. 4 Combine several signs to make a conclusion. You can fairly accurately determine the sex of a turtle if you evaluate all of the above characteristics and analyze them together. Keep in mind that some traits are less reliable than others for determining the sex of a turtle.
   • If all the signs point in the same direction, then chances are you have correctly sexed your turtle. However, if the signs are confusing, it is best to show the turtle to the vet to verify its gender.
   • If you are not sure what conclusion to draw, wait for the turtle to get older and try again. Determining the sex of a baby turtle is very difficult.
   • Remember that you may have to wait until your turtle reaches puberty before you can accurately determine its gender.

Tips

• Drawings or photographs will help you analyze the cloaca. For this, for example, there is a very convenient and good book "Turtles. Maintenance, diseases and treatment "D. Vasiliev.
• There are many species of sea turtles (notably Atlantic Ridley, Kemp's sea turtles, and others) that do not have external sexual characteristics. Talk to your veterinarian who specializes in marine animals to find out what gender your turtle is.

Warnings

• Wash your hands every timeafter talking with a turtle. Some turtles can carry salmonellosis - and while this does not harm the turtle, it can be dangerous to humans. Be sure to wash your hands with warm water and soap after handling your turtle. Make sure children do the same after interacting with the turtle.