Differentiating Male and Female Cuora amboinensis (Malayan Box Turtle)

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Differentiating Male and Female Cuora amboinensis (Malayan Box Turtle) - Chris Tabaka DVM

This is a relatively common species in the pet trade in the United States. It is also one of the hardiest and most personable of the Asian box turtles.

Please also see the care sheet on this species at: Malayan Box Turtle (Cuora amboinensis) – Darrell Senneke and Chris Tabaka DVM http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/Camboinensiscare.htm

The pictures below are of a pair of Cuora amboinensis. The male is on the right. Note his large, thick tail as well as his slight plastral concavity. The female on the left has a short stubby tail as well as a completely flat plastron.

In the picture below, the male is on the left while the female is on the right. Again, notice the slight plastral concavity as well as the long thick tail in the male on the left. On the right note the completely flat plastron as well as the short and stubby tail.

. In the pictures below, note the large thick tail in the male on the left and the short stubby tail in the female on the right


Male *Cuora amboinensis*	Female *Cuora amboinensis*

Again, the male is pictured on the left and the female is on the right. Note the marked differences in the tail sizes in these adult animals. Juveniles can be difficult to sex until the animals approach sexual maturity.