Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide discussion thread

[allegraf]

We were taking some pics of my adults today and someone suggested it would be helpful for everyone to see. It is interesting to see that not all of the females' anal scutes have the well known, "sure sign of a girl", the rounded anal scutes. Some of the cherry females' anal scutes are noticeably different and more masculine. It is also interesting that some of the females also develop a concave plastron. No where near as pronounced as the males, but it is still concave and not totally flat. Mind you, these are of my adults where the sex of each tort is known. These differences in adults illustrate why it is so hard to accurately sex the sub adults and impossible with the hatchlings. Here are the pics. Enjoy!

Allegra

Some are the easily identified rounded scutes:

Some are more flattened like the male anal scutes tend to be:

Here are the photos of the concave female plastrons:

I have one girl that has the rounded anal scutes, longer tail and concave plastron:

The males have thickened anal scutes that are flatter than the girls coupled with the deep concavity of the plastron. Here are a few shots of some of our males for comparison:

 

[Candy]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

Wow great thread, thanks for showing us these pictures. It sure helps with identifying the differences between females and males. I was very surprised to see your female with the concave. I didn't think that that happened with females.

 

[pdrobber]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

awesome, very helpful. thanks

 

[terryo]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

This is a great thread. Now I can see why there is such discrepancy when trying to sex Pio. Thanks Allegra.

 

[Madkins007]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

According to a study (Guix. "Masculinization of captive females of Chelonoidis carbonaria"), some female Brazilian Red-foots- what we often call Cherry-heads- can develop male-like characteristics, at least those in captivity sometimes do. Longer tails, concave plastrons, and anal scute gaps that are sometimes too small to pass a developed egg. Sounds like a perfect match to one of your girls!

Overall, this sounds like an interesting study to figure out if there is another set of solid characteristics to go by, and more fuel for the debate about this being a different species!

 

[HarleyK]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

Can someone please clarify if this method can be used for northern redfoots or is it cherryheads in particular?

 

[GotTurtles]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

I seem to have skipped this thread. Thanks for the pictures Allegra. Its good to see the differences in females. Shows people that the "guidelines" to sexing tortoises is not always by the book.

 

[tortoises101]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

Very very informative and useful too. Thanks for sharing.

 

[allegraf]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

Thanks, I'm glad this helps. Regarding the northerns, we have only two adults (m/f) and two subs (most likely females), we have not been exposed too much to the northerns. Maybe someone with access to a larger group or with more experience can help.

Allegra

 

[Jacqui]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

Wonderful thread!

 

[HarleyK]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

Thanks, I'm glad this helps. Regarding the northerns, we have only two adults (m/f) and two subs (most likely females), we have not been exposed too much to the northerns. Maybe someone with access to a larger group or with more experience can help.

Allegra

Nice. Someone hopefully will create a thread, but of northern redfoots :]

 

[tortoises101]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

Thanks, I'm glad this helps. Regarding the northerns, we have only two adults (m/f) and two subs (most likely females), we have not been exposed too much to the northerns. Maybe someone with access to a larger group or with more experience can help.

Allegra

Nice. Someone hopefully will create a thread, but of northern redfoots :]

Yeah, that would be nice.

 

[Hustler]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

Ok this one looks to me to be a female.... I would love.....LOVE to know for sure?????
Its 14 years old

 

[Hustler]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

She has the black plastron, the armpit scales, the red head (if its wet) and lower shell...... So its a cherryfoot right lol ?
and its a female right? lol

 

[N2TORTS]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

Very nicely done!

JD~

 

[allegraf]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

Yes you have a girl and yes it looks like a cherryhead! Congrats, that is a pretty girl that looks more than ready to breed.

 

[Alexdeskjet]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

i have two red foot one is 8" and the second is 5"
I would LOVE to know for sure what is?????

first:






this the second:

 

[Madkins007]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

Top one looks male, bottom looks female- but it is a lot early for the bottom one. The top one is more likely to be a male, but it may be a bit early for that one too.

 

[Alexdeskjet]

RE: Sexing Cherryheads- a pictorial guide

Top one looks male, bottom looks female- but it is a lot early for the bottom one. The top one is more likely to be a male, but it may be a bit early for that one too.

Madkins007 thanks for all i post photo in couples of month