Instructions
Notice the size of leopard lizards. Adult female leopard lizards are larger than the adult male. Females grow up to 6 inches, whereas the male is one inch smaller.
Look at the colors and marking of leopard lizards during breeding season. Rich-colored, reddish-orange markings appear on the head, sides, and underbelly of the female leopard lizard during the months of April through June. Male leopard lizards develop a pinkish to rusty color on their throat, chest, and underbelly during the breeding season.
Look at the belly of leopard lizards. The male leopard lizard has a bulge and femoral pores near the end of the abdomen and beginning of the tail. The pores are dark-colored. The female leopard lizard lacks the bulge, and the femoral pores are hardly noticeable.
Analyze the behavior of leopard lizards. The male leopard lizard tends to be aggressive and territorial. During breeding season, males are even more aggressive than usual. The female leopard lizard is less aggressive than males and is not territorial. Long-nose male leopard lizard are not as aggressive as blunt-nose males. Long-nose lizards will freeze to avoid fighting, but will attack when they feel threatened. Both male and females are able to disconnect from their tails if captured by the tail.
How to Tell a Female Leopard Lizard From a Male
There are two kinds of leopard lizards: blunt-nosed and long-nosed lizards. The main difference between the two is that one has a shorter nose than the other. Leopard lizards have small bodies with long tails. They are colorful and love to bask in the sun. Male and female leopard lizards are very similar to each other, making it rather difficult to tell them apart. Watching not only their behavior, but also their changes in appearance, can help identify the male from the female.