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How to Identify Male & Female Pond Turtles

The term "pond turtle" may refer to any number of species of turtles commonly encountered in marshes, ponds and other wetlands. In North America, species like the spotted turtle, the wood turtle and Pacific pond turtle --all in the same genus, Clemmys--often are called pond turtles. Other species, including the familiar painted turtles so widely distributed in the U.S., may colloquially fall under the same category. A number of these aquatic reptiles demonstrate sexually dimorphic features--physical traits differing between the genders--and the careful observer may be able to tell males from females with close inspection.

Instructions

- 1
  Look at the turtle's underside, the lower portion of the shell called the plastron. A male pond turtle typically shows a concave plastron, an adaptation for mounting females. The female has a flat underside.
- 2
  Find the anal vent. In male pond turtles, this is usually located beyond the rim of the carapace, closer to the tip of the tail--another adaptation for copulation. In females, the opening is generally closer to the tail base, beneath the shadow of the carapace.
- 3
  Consider coloration. In Pacific pond turtles, the males usually show a lighter hue on their throats than females. The female's shell also sports more extensive patterning.The throats of male wood turtles are usually reddish; females have yellowish throats. In spotted turtles, males have tawny chins and black pigmentation along parts of their jaws, as well as brownish eyes; the females have yellowish chins and jawlines and orange eyes.
- 4
  Check the tail dimensions. The males of many pond turtles, like the bog turtle, spotted turtle, wood turtle and the painted turtles, have notably longer, stouter tails than females.
- 5
  Examine the foreclaws. On some turtle species, including the bog turtle and the painted turtles, males have much lengthier foreclaws, used in courtship rituals.
- 6
  Consider size, especially if you have more than one turtle under observation or examination. Because body dimensions vary considerably from individual to individual, this is a less useful diagnostic for gender discrimination. Female spotted turtles are bigger than males; male wood turtles are often bigger than females.

Animals & Science