Hi again, Yes, this subject is very interesting. And totally missidentified. For instance, many pics I see on the internet are missidentified. That is, other folks just like you, have a camera, but no experience, so they see something sticking out of the vent and call it hemipenes. But they never followed thru to actually see if that individual laid eggs or mated a female. You see, this is the actual proof what what sex they become.



So they just see something and call it whatever they have predetermined to think it was. This goes for academics as well. The reality, if your looking for a pair, then that means your interested in breeding them or at least giving them a social balance(something to interact with other then silly humans)



The actual proof is missing in over 99% of what is printed, written, said, posted and published. Which is one reason why theres so much failure with varanids.



Even with my experience at breeding monitors, which is extensive, with young varanids, I sex them loosely, that is, I may call this one a male and that one a female, but I "know" I may have to change their names(gender specific) later. hahahahahahahahahahahaha. I am right a lot, but sadly not all the time.



Your next question is what leads to the, not being right all the time. Most animals develop the same, unisex(female) until the male hormones cause the female parts to change. This appears to be the case with varanids. Most animals do this as a zygote or embryo. Varanids may indeed do this secondary develop at puberty or even more confusing a delayed puberty. Up until that time, we call these large gender unspecific individuals, he/shes or she/hes. Most of these will indeed turn to their genetic gender. But some stay in a state of no secondary development.



So, before I go on and confuse you even more, any MORE questions, hahahahahahaha Thanks

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