Hi i recaently bought ornates and deserts. I want to breed ornates and deserts, but they look the same. I just read that they are like the same. Are they. and if not how do i tell them apart?
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are ornates and deserts the same?
easterngarter
Aug 07, 2004 03:22 PM
Replies (2)
Katrina
Aug 07, 2004 07:42 PM
They are subspecies of Terrapene ornata. Ornates are T. o. ornata, and deserts are T. o. luteola. You can find a good picture comparing the plastron here: http://www.chelonia.org/terrapenegallery.htm
Katrina
bloomindaedalus
Aug 09, 2004 04:06 AM
The way to differentiate them is by counting the number of radiating lines on each carapacial scute.
If there's more than 10 on the second pleural then its most likely luteola (desert).
