Growth question?

[behleh]

We have had this California Desert Tortoise for 20 years. We have no idea if they are a male or female. Last week, they started growing this bump on their chin. We’ve never noticed this happening before. Today, I went to check on it and take a clearer photo, and it was gone! It definitely did not seem to be anything just stuck on the chin. Anyone have any ideas what it is? Nothing else changed, appetite, movement, everything else seemed totally normal.

 

[iAmCentrochelys sulcata]

taking a picture of the cloaca.
@Yvonne G

 

[behleh]

taking a picture of the cloaca.
@Yvonne G

I’m not sure what this means??

 

[MichaelL]

Taking a picture of the tail area or "cloaca" to identify if it is male or female. Regarding the bump, I've always wondered what that could be. I have seen pictures of deserts tortoises with bumps near their mouth. Hopefully someone more experienced comes and help.

 

[behleh]

Taking a picture of the tail area or "cloaca" to identify if it is male or female. Regarding the bump, I've always wondered what that could be. I have seen pictures of deserts tortoises with bumps near their mouth. Hopefully someone more experienced comes and help.

Thank you Michael! That is helpful! I will try to take a photo tomorrow, our tortoise has burrowed for the night.

 

[MichaelL]

Well look what I just found! https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/white-bumps-under-chin.126070/

Apparently they are a "gland" of some sort, more prominent on male tortoises and used for marking territory..

 

[iAmCentrochelys sulcata]

I’m not sure what this means??

Take a picture of the Cloaca. The tail.

 

[KarenSoCal]

They are glands that males have. But I don't see a corresponding one on his right side. And I have never seen one look so large.

You said it disappeared...I'm thinking that maybe the gland got infected and then popped. Or it's not a gland at all, and he just had a small abscess there. In which case he could still be she.

Take a couple shots from underneath, one of the whole plastron, and one of the tail area.

 

[behleh]

Here is a photo of the chin now, sorry it’s out of focus, but they doesn’t keep their head still very much, haha. I’ve also added photos of the tail and under shell area.

 

[behleh]

They are glands that males have. But I don't see a corresponding one on his right side. And I have never seen one look so large.

You said it disappeared...I'm thinking that maybe the gland got infected and then popped. Or it's not a gland at all, and he just had a small abscess there. In which case he could still be she.

Take a couple shots from underneath, one of the whole plastron, and one of the tail area.

They are glands that males have. But I don't see a corresponding one on his right side. And I have never seen one look so large.

You said it disappeared...I'm thinking that maybe the gland got infected and then popped. Or it's not a gland at all, and he just had a small abscess there. In which case he could still be she.

Take a couple shots from underneath, one of the whole plastron, and one of the tail area.

Thank you, I’ve posted some photos to the thread!

 

[behleh]

Thank you Michael! That is helpful! I will try to take a photo tomorrow, our tortoise has burrowed for the night.

Thank you, I’ve posted some photos to the thread!

 

[MichaelL]

That's strange, it really looks female to me. I'd wait until someone else pops in.

 

[KarenSoCal]

Looks female to me too. I can't see chin glands, I don't see a significant curve to the plastron, and almost no gular horn.

In a 20 year old, all those things should be easily visible.

But I'm no expert. Maybe someone else will pop in.

 

[behleh]

Looks female to me too. I can't see chin glands, I don't see a significant curve to the plastron, and almost no gular horn.

In a 20 year old, all those things should be easily visible.

But I'm no expert. Maybe someone else will pop in.

Thanks Karen! We’ve always guessed and addressed her as if she’s female, but we’ve never really looked into it. We’ve had her for 20 years, but she was given to us already fully grown, so we’re not sure how old she is. She (or he) may be much older.

 

[Krowley123]

We have had this California Desert Tortoise for 20 years. We have no idea if they are a male or female. Last week, they started growing this bump on their chin. We’ve never noticed this happening before. Today, I went to check on it and take a clearer photo, and it was gone! It definitely did not seem to be anything just stuck on the chin. Anyone have any ideas what it is? Nothing else changed, appetite, movement, everything else seemed totally normal. View attachment 293844View attachment 293845

If your tortoise is concave under breath (tummy area of its shell) it is a Male. If it is flat it is a female. The male clubs on top of the female to mate.

 

[DesertGirl]

Female, no doubt in my mind, but my mind is sometimes wrong! My 11 yo female Sonoran Desert tort looks just like her.

 

[Obbie]

My gut says female....she doesn’t appear to have the huge battering rams under her head, small tail