Instructions
Deduce the temperature at which the eggs were incubated, if possible. The incubation temperature of the egg determines the sex of an alligator snapping turtle. A warmer incubation, from 29 to 30 degrees Celsius, results in female babies, while cooler temperatures of 25 to 27 degrees Celsius primarily produce males.
Ensure that the turtles you are examining are at least 11 years old. Both genders of alligator snapping turtles reach sexual maturity between the ages of 11 and 13 and you are more likely to be able to correctly determine their sex when they are mature.
Examine the plastron, which is the bottom of the shell. If the plastron is concave, the turtle is likely a male, since an upward curve allows the male to mount the female. If the plastron is convex, it is likely female, since an outward curve provides space for egg gestation.
Determine the distance between the reproductive opening, called the cloaca, and the shell. On females, the cloaca is closer to the shell than on males.
Establish the length of the claws on the turtle's front legs. Males have longer claws than females, as males grip the female during mating.
Observe the turtle's tail. The tails of males are thicker and fatter and those of females are smaller and thinner.
How Can You Tell a Girl Alligator Snapping Turtle From a Boy?
The alligator snapping turtle lives throughout the southern United States, from Florida to Georgia and in some parts of Texas. They can also live in more northern states such as Illinois and Kansas. They inhabit streams, swamps, marches, ponds and lakes. Learning to tell the difference between male and female alligator snapping turtles is essential in breeding and learning more about the species.