Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I remember a while back reading about a way of sexing mature male boas...several people had said they noticed keeled scales (like the ones on the tail of a sand boa) right around the vent/spurs on their mature males...

I've noticed that all my adult males have these keels, and all of my adult females lack them completely.

I had this adult male hypo out for some excersise, and got some pics of the keels I'm talking about...they are sort of hard to see, I can't get my macro setting to focus close enough to get a really clear shot...

This male was sold to me in 2007, as a mature, proven adult male. I don't have an exact age on him, but he was 5' at that time, and is a breeding machine.

Anyone else think maybe this might be a good marker of sexual dimorphism in adult boas?
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Heather Martin
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Very interesting Heather, I have never heard about that before, I can see the keels clearly on your male. I will check my males when they are not in with the girls...I love to learn more what a fun hobby.

Thanks for sharing.
Joel

Sorry to sound dumb.

But what is keeled?
Like a line down the middle of each scale?

Please help as I am seriously this uneducated
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www.BetterBoa.com

7.5 BCIs
4.5 Corn snakes

Heather,
i have noticed that keel scales on pos. super hypos and proven super hypos. I while back while going through a number of hypo to hypo litters i noticed the keeled scales on the nicest of the pos. super hypos and after calling a few friends and asking them to feel their babies they said they noticed it to on their proven super hypos and pos super babies. not just the tail scales but the whole body and is most noticeable towards the last third to the animals. anybody else notice that by any chance?
micah