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I have 2 A. armata and can't really see a huge difference between the 2 specimens to determine that they are in fact a pair. One is the bright green with webbing that I expected and is the most aggressive of the pair. I can't reach into the enclosure to offer roaches with tongs or to put in nightcrawlers with out it hissing loudly and lunging at me. It has even bitten my husband!

The other is more brown with the same webbing and sometimes shows a hint of green but never as bright as the other. She appears to be a bit less aggressive than the green one. She never hisses or threatens instead choosing to take a statuesque pose in hopes of being left alone.

Anyway, I am wondering if they may be a pair even though I don’t see the large tail base I am used to seeing on the capra. Having never seen A. armata before I just am not sure if they are as easily sexed as A. capra.

Next, I have encountered someone from Texas who has a couple of small MHDs that I think may be lepidogaster but they are small and I am just not sure. You can see 4 definite horn bumps but they are not real developed. I’m not sure if it’s because of age or species as A. capra would have much more developed horns at a comparable size. I was wondering if you could confirm species for me.

Here’s the smaller brown one:

here’s the smaller one showing the horns & crest

The last is the two of them showing the green one displaying

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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

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They are bigger than my babies
and my babies have horns
*note to self, MUST get pics*

ok that is my Next project
get some measuring tool, and Photo the Dragons all on it
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Elizabeth (ecb)

Make this world a better and more beautiful place that You have been in it
*Edward W Bok*

Hi Froggie,
as always, its not easy to identify MHD species from Pics.
To me the second one loks male and the first...I don´t know, maybe female.
But I am not sure about the species.
armatas are famous for their high crest ans spines-and I don´t see much of that in the animals on the pic.
I´d guess at that size you should see that in armatas.
Intuitively I would say that the first animal very much reminds me of A. lepidogaster...maybe you shoud check this.
The large number of tubercle scales on the flanks of the second animal somewhat irritates me.
Sorry, all very inconclusive.
But thats all I can say.

Best regards

Ingo

are they as obvious as the capra? With my two there is hardly any difference in the base of the tail but the temperament is very different between the two. Both are fat and the brighter green one is very aggressive to say the least. The darker of the two is much more calm but still isn't what you could call tame by any means. Needless to say I don't handle either but rather make sure they have feeders avalable. They do love to take roaches from tongs but even then the green one hisses and makes a fuss before eating.

here's some pics. Not too great as they are in shed but shows the pattern and color difference.

First is a shot of both side by side. The one on the left is the one that was supposed to be female while the one on the right was supposed to be male.

Here is a fuller view of the female. I wasn't able to get a side shot as she doesn't move aroung much except to eat and visit the water.

Here are some closer shots of the one that's supposed to be a male:

If anyone can shed some light on this I would be most appreciative. If what I have is two females then I really need a male! If they are a pair and are just more difficult to sex than capra then hopefully I will have some eggs this fall.

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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

groups.yahoo.com/group/agamid/join
(click the link to join the agamid group on yahoo)

Hi Froggie,

oh, sorry, I obviously mixed up some things. So the animals in the last post were the supposed lepidogaster, not armata.
Don´t know why, but I misunderstood this.

Anyhow, I still tend to say that the ID as lepidogaster true-at least for the female, the male looks a bit unusual to me.

Your armatas are really nice specimens and they definitely belong to this species.
The dark animal I´d say is 100% female.
The other specimen displays a colour and pattern which would be quite typical for males.
But I am afraid, I am as lost as you are: I think, the hemipenis bulges should be more visible.
Anyhow, from my Gonocephalus I know that there can be sigificant variation in the size of hemipenis bulges.
I had one male chamaleontinus, which could easily be mistaken for a female when looking at its tail base but definitely was male and also showed male colouration.
So again, I think, I can´t help you much, but I think there is still hope.
The overall appearance of the animal is male ...but fat belly and thin tail base still leave the question open. Not easy!

best regards

Ingo

>>Hi Froggie,
>>
>>oh, sorry, I obviously mixed up some things. So the animals in the last post were the supposed lepidogaster, not armata.
>>Don´t know why, but I misunderstood this.
>>
>>Anyhow, I still tend to say that the ID as lepidogaster true-at least for the female, the male looks a bit unusual to me.
>>
>>Your armatas are really nice specimens and they definitely belong to this species.
>>The dark animal I´d say is 100% female.
>>The other specimen displays a colour and pattern which would be quite typical for males.
>>But I am afraid, I am as lost as you are: I think, the hemipenis bulges should be more visible.
>>Anyhow, from my Gonocephalus I know that there can be sigificant variation in the size of hemipenis bulges.
>>I had one male chamaleontinus, which could easily be mistaken for a female when looking at its tail base but definitely was male and also showed male colouration.
>>So again, I think, I can´t help you much, but I think there is still hope.
>>The overall appearance of the animal is male ...but fat belly and thin tail base still leave the question open. Not easy!
>>
>>best regards
>>
>>Ingo
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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

groups.yahoo.com/group/agamid/join
(click the link to join the agamid group on yahoo)

Hello:
Though they look a little young both look to be females. Most males (as you know) are quite noticeable. The brown one is possibly a male but the green one sure looks like a female to me.
Have a Great Day!!!