Criptic's Page On Herps - Reptiles

your animal.

Sexing your herps maybe important if you're intent is to breed or if you are keeping more then one animal per enclosure. The importance of the first is obvious. The importance of the second may not be so obvious to everyone. Most reptiles are not social animals. Their tendencies in nature is to avoid others of their species as well as for males to claim their territory. Most male reptiles will defend their territories adamantly, chasing off other males hoping to attract females and procreate their own genetics. Most of the time, in nature, this consists of a dominance display and if necessary, a fight till one gives up and leaves. This takes place usually with little harm to either. But, in the confines of your closed-in enclosure, the loser has no place to go. The dominate reptile doesn't know that it has won because the loser is still within its' sight, seemingly still challenging for its' territory.

Because of this, most reptiles are best kept singly or in breeding groups. A breeding group usually consists of one male and a few females. Warning, some species, like panther chameleons, do not even tolerate the presence of the opposite sex, unless the female is receptive to breeding. In cases such as this, the reptiles must be kept separately. Some must not even be within sight of each other. Careful observations of your herps will let you know how they tolerate each other.

Sexual Dimorphism.

A lot of species have obvious differences between the sexes. Examples of this are; veiled chameleon (males have spurs on their heels), panther chameleons (males are colorful, females black and salmon), basilisks (males have head and dorsal crests), and the now extinct golden toads of Costa Rica's cloud forests (males a bright orange color, females a typical brown).

When sexing herps, look for obvious differences first.

Size - Males larger then females (frogs - females larger then males).

Color - Males have more color.

Body proportions - Males stockier, or females rounder bellies.

Ornamentation - Males larger crests or horns

Scalation

In some species, males will have more pronounced pre-anal pores. Flip your animal over and look for the presence of pores along the underside of the thighs. Compare your animals pores. With experience you will begin to be able to sex some species this way once they are a couple of months old.

You also maybe able to sex just by looking for a hemipenile bulge. This is usually visible just beyond the vent at the base of the tail. This is a reliable method in most reptiles.

With most frogs, the males do all of the calling. Because of this, males will have darker throats called a "throat sac." An example of this is the strawberry poison dart frog. You may also want to simulate rain (mist) and see which frogs call.

When in doubt, observing behaviors often gives you clues. When in breeding condition males usually perform territorial displays and aggressive behaviors. This will make their sex unmistakable. Any lizard that lays eggs is obviously female.

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