One of my new females looks like a male! Common?

[ZEROPILOT]

I'll get photos up later today.
I just purchased two adult female Red foot tortoises. One has a short, fat, rounded tail and smooth bottom etc. Classic female.
The other tortoise has a longer, more pointed tail, slight hour glass shape and much smaller opening near the tail for egg laying...Yet I've been told that they both lay eggs. The male looking one produces fewer and the eggs are smaller. (I haven't seen this firsthand, yet.)
My question is, is this common? A full sized female that looks like a male?

 

[HLogic]

When you say "much smaller opening near the tail for egg laying", do you mean the vent?

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

My friend Jane is a full-sized female that looks and acts like a male. (she's really great)

But I don't know about tortoises.

 

[cdmay]

Let's see the photos, 'she' sounds interesting.

 

[tortdad]

I've seen pictures as read story's of this but never seen one. From what I've read it's not that uncommon to have a female Redfoot with some male characteristics. They like to fool you.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Let's see the photos, 'she' sounds interesting.[/QUOT
Are you referring to the tortoise or Jane, my friend?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Yes. The vent, if that's the V-shaped opening/void at the end of the plastron where the tail and private parts exit. It is much smaller an opening on the one. (Big Bertha) than the girly one, Ruby.
I'll get some photos once I'm home today.

 

[tortadise]

I'll get photos up later today.
I just purchased two adult female Red foot tortoises. One has a short, fat, rounded tail and smooth bottom etc. Classic female.
The other tortoise has a longer, more pointed tail, slight hour glass shape and much smaller opening near the tail for egg laying...Yet I've been told that they both lay eggs. The male looking one produces fewer and the eggs are smaller. (I haven't seen this firsthand, yet.)
My question is, is this common? A full sized female that looks like a male?

Ventral openings can be misshaped from incubation temps or even a development flaw when they're young and in the egg. A lot of northern clad varieties the female will somewhat hourglass. Not nearly as defined of males though. What's the SCL ladies and of course photos will help a lot too. Are these captive or wild collected(and or farm raised)?.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Farm raised/born and kept privately for about 15 years. (not by myself)
They are over 12" and over 15 pounds. I have neither measured or weighed them.
They are said to be sisters from the same clutch.
I'll get some more info. tonight.
Thanks for your help.

 

[tortadise]

These are female Guyanese locales. The one in the middle is wild collected. The other two are clutch mates and F2. See how even the clutch mates can represent different waste banding. Now if it's extreme more than likely you have a male. But will need photos to define it clearly for you.

 

[tortadise]

Same F2 females and different Guyana wild collected female with a large male. Mega waste band and flared posterior and anterior limb marginal(1,2,3,6,7,8,&9) scutes.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

That male is very obvious. I'm anxious to see what you think. Untill I see Big Bertha lay an egg....or hear from someone who would know...I'm still thinking maybe I've got another male. Not that the seller/breeder would have had any reason to lie.

 

[tortadise]

Well 12" in length will certainly be a size to define whether it's male or female. Well wait until you can provide photos. Ventral scutes can be deceiving and not always a 100% effective measure of properly sexing. Some tails can be longer than others on females and males too.

 

[Jacqui]

Maybe my luck has rubbed off on you? Every female I bring home, turns out to actually be a male. lol

 

[Turtlepete]

I have a female that looks pretty male-ish from other characteristics. Slight hourglass shape. Not impossible.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Maybe my luck has rubbed off on you? Every female I bring home, turns out to actually be a male. lol

I had the same problem when I lived in Thailand!

Maybe my luck has rubbed off on you? Every female I bring home, turns out to actually be a male. lol

 

[ZEROPILOT]

The verdict?
First two photos my big female. 2nd two photos my other "female". Last photo is my small male.

 

[tortadise]

100% female

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Cool!! The photo of my little male didn't come out. I'll try again.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Male?