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| StarTortoises.net | * Indian / Sri Lankan & Burmese Star Tortoises... plus a few other species... |
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Burmese & Indian / Sri Lankan Star Tortoises
Other Stars Angulate Tortoise Misc. Pages
Tidbit: The Angulate / Angulated tortoise (Chersina angulata) is also called the "Fighting tortoise" because males engage in rigorous combats trying to over turn each other.
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Angulate Tortoise Male vs female
Chersina angulata Sexing Angulate tortoises Unlike in most small tortoise species, Angulate / Angulated tortoise (Chersina angulata) males grow larger than females. Males have longer gular shields, aka throat shields, and longer tails. Adult males have concave plastrons. In males, the body shape tends to be flatter and longer. Males may also have wider posterior carapaces. As you see in these photos, the shape of the supracaudal scute and the bony tail opening may look very similar in both sexes. If you have a subadult or adult pair, you will see the differences in the shape and length of the tails. Also, female's cloacal opening looks roundish and male's looks more like a slit towards the tip of the tail. For shell details (e.g. gular shield, supracaudal scute), see the shell scutes page.
Rule of thumb for sexing young tortoises If the tortoise looks like a boy, it's a boy. Simple, right? :O)
Photos of females
Female Angulate tortoise. Notice the short, fat, stubby tail with a a little tip.
Female
Female
Photos of males
Male Angulate tortoise. The tail is a little longer and shaped like a deep letter V. You may occasionally see your male tortoise "flash" his male organ. Here's a photo. Caution: Not for small kids.
Male Angulate tortoise. Often, it's difficult to see the tail because it's kept hidden like this.
Male Angulate tortoise. This photo is a bit blurry, but it shows well the deep v-shape and the length of the tail.
Male Angulate tortoise. This photo shows the long slit shape, or groove, of the cloacal opening. I took this photo right after he pooped. So, the vent is still a bit open.
Male Angulate tortoises use their long gular shields (throat shields) to overturn each other during fights. |
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