Differentiating Male and Female Indotestudo elongata (Elongated or Yellow tortoise)

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Differentiating Male and Female Indotestudo elongata (Elongated or Yellow tortoise) - Darrell Senneke

Sexing Indotestudo elongata is fairly easily done. Elongated tortoises have distinct differences between the sexes, this page should help you identify which sex you have.

Please also see the care sheet on this species at: Indotestudo elongata - Elongated Tortoises by Darrell Senneke http://www.chelonia.org/articles/elongatacare.htm

The easiest way to sex this species is by the length of the tail and the slightly concave plastron of the male. This pair are typical for the species in general. The male can be seen on the left in the paired pictures below.

As you can see, the plastron of the male is concave in comparison to the female.


Male *Indotestudo elongata*	Female *Indotestudo elongata*

As can be seen in the close-up below, the female's tail (on the right) is much shorter in length. Notice the length of the "claw" on the tip of the males tail. Care must be taken to separate the sexes if the females start being injured from his attentions.