The Orange Male...

[rattboy]

Hi All,

A few weeks ago I posted to identify a few of the greeks that I had and one in particular was id'd as the smaller terrestris locality. He's an orange specimen. I was searching for a mate for him and through a friend have found a possible pairing.

I wanted to share this pic and ask a few questions that puzzle me.

This is the orange male I'm referring to:

The female I found is also orange but has a really dark orange mask but certainly has the dark mustache underlying. Is this a similar locality specimen?

Secondly, is she even a female? I'll say this. Her body size and shape is femalish as she is definitely on the larger more oval side of the equation. She has an indented plastron but I"m being told some females do. Her tail is not small but I'm told mature female tails are not necessarily small in this species. Males are simply abnormally long and thick.

Here's a few shots of the carapace, plastron and tail. The opening near the anal scute appears to be femalish, near oval but I'd have to say the overall characteristics leave me puzzled. I figure its one of two possibilities... Its a male...or I'm just not used to seeing a more mature female who's parts look bigger than expected.

Thoughts?

 

[rattboy]

A couple other females that he has, for comparison... To me all of them seem to have larger tails and most have some indention particularly right at the hinge. All of them fit a similar description as the supposed female above - wide oval bodies.. larger than expected tail.

Female 13

Female 2

 

[egyptiandan]

Hi Paul,
They aren't Goldens, but Jordanians. Also they are all males. Who ever has these isn't very good at sexing.
Females have tiny tails.

Danny

 

[Jacqui]

Too bad #1 isn't the female your seeking. I love it's color. Now that is one even I would buy.

 

[rattboy]

Hi Paul,
They aren't Goldens, but Jordanians. Also they are all males. Who ever has these isn't very good at sexing.
Females have tiny tails.

Danny

Thanks for your input Danny.

Paul

 

[egyptiandan]

Here are some females Paul.
T.g.antakyensis

T.g.terrestris

Jordanian, T.g.ssp

Danny

 

[rattboy]

Alrighty, I've corrected my friend who apparently has all males.

I think I've found the one for the Orange Male.

Danny do you think this female is similar to the male above or more similar to the other terrestris locality? She apprears to have a light orange hue and otherwise terrestris features. Her 5th vertebral is not overly sized either.

I haven't had time to clean her up yet so her plastron shot is dirty from shipment. She's a gorgeous lil girl.

Thanks,

Paul

 

[JustAnja]

Is that the girl I tried to buy Paul but you beat me to it???? ;P

 

[rattboy]

Indeed it is Anja

She's a small thing. I'd eyeball her at about 4.5" but awfully cute.

Cheers,

Paul

 

[JustAnja]

Ahh well Im glad you got her, if I didnt

 

[egyptiandan]

Hi Paul,
She's a perfect match for your male. She is very nice. She'll need another 1.5 inches before she's adult, if she's 4.5 inches.

Danny

 

[rattboy]

Awesome thanks Danny and Anja! All of these guys have a few years to go it would seem. I will be building new outdoor habitats for them in the next couple months along with new enclosures for other species I keep, as I just bought a new place with some land. Pictures of the project will be posted later.

Appreciate your input. It really helps.

Paul

 

[Crazy1]

She is a lovely female, and match for your male. May I ask were you got her from?

 

[rattboy]

She is a lovely female, and match for your male. May I ask were you got her from?

She was posted on KS with a group of various types of graeca. Her photo was clear enough that I could make out her features so I selected just her.

 

[Crazy1]

Thanks Rattboy for the info