How to Tell the Gender of a Map Turtle

If you are wanting to add another map turtle to your aquarium, you most likely would want to know the gender of the animal in order to control reproduction. Many distinctive characteristics can help you tell the turtle's gender, which can be seen by observing its anatomy closely. A few visual steps will help reveal the turtle's gender.

Things You'll Need

  • Other map turtles
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Instructions

    • 1

      Look at the turtle's tail against other maps and notice the thickness and length. If the tail is longer and thicker than the others, the turtle will be male in gender.

    • 2

      Compare the the front claws of the turtle against those of other maps and determine whether they are longer than the other turtles. Many map males have much longer front claws than their female counterparts, such as those that belong to the G. oculifera, G. ouachitensis, G. flavimaculata, G. nigrinoda, and G. pseudogeographica species.

    • 3

      Compare the size of the turtle against other maps. Females are generally the bigger of the two species. The female least biggest in size will be at least as big as the largest male, or bigger.

    • 4

      Observe the turtrle's head and jaws against the other maps. A female map will have a larger head, and broader jaw than the males in many species. This distinguishing characteristic is especially common with the G. pulchra, G. barbouri, and G. geographica species.