Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is there a reliable way to sex adult European Legless Lizards (Sheltopusik?)

Kameron
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Fat, Flat Lizard Ranch

There is no reliable way to sex Sheltopusiks, except when you have a large enough group in order to be able to observe individual differences as well as potential sexual behaviors. Basically you can't probe them because their osteoderm-reinforced scales make their cloaca too strong to safely insert probes into. Also, you can't radiograph them because the osteoderms scatter the x-rays making it difficult to impossible to discern soft tissues. For the same reason, ultrasound is pretty much worthless too.

I've been researching Sheltopusiks for years and currently have a group of 0.0.5 [although it may potentially be 1.1.3]. I also wrote an article on their captive husbandry for 'Reptile and Amphibian Hobbyist' magazine back in 1999. The best information I possess says they can be sexed based on confirmation and sexual behavior. On the odd chance that one will evert it's hemipenes that of course can be definitive, but everting of hemipenes is rare.

Basically, the males have more prominent brow ridges and their heads are larger and more set off from the body than with females. Females have smaller more streamlined heads and tend to be physically smaller than males of the same age. When housing multiple individuals of both sexes together under optimal conditions sexual behavior may be exhibited as well. This can be males chasing females and attempting to mate by pressing their body against the female as well as biting the neck of the female.

Now, even with all that, I have a group of 5 and I'm not 100 percent sure of their sex. As to breeding, it's difficult at best to get them to breed, provided you have a viable sex ratio. Only a very small handful of zoos that I know of have had success breeding them, and as far as I know no private individuals have had success with them. I'm sure there have been some private individuals who've had success with them but overall they're largely a curiosity in the herp trade, particularly here in the U.S. and as such no one really works with them in earnest - except me maybe.
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Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, Illinois

Thanks, I figured I'd ask...I have 0.0.1 at work that I care for, but a friend of mine has 0.0.2 privately. I was hoping to get some info for her to see if she could sex hers, as their behavior has changed over the past couple of weeks (becoming more agressive, chasing each other, etc.)

Kameron

>>There is no reliable way to sex Sheltopusiks, except when you have a large enough group in order to be able to observe individual differences as well as potential sexual behaviors. Basically you can't probe them because their osteoderm-reinforced scales make their cloaca too strong to safely insert probes into. Also, you can't radiograph them because the osteoderms scatter the x-rays making it difficult to impossible to discern soft tissues. For the same reason, ultrasound is pretty much worthless too.
>>
>>I've been researching Sheltopusiks for years and currently have a group of 0.0.5 [although it may potentially be 1.1.3]. I also wrote an article on their captive husbandry for 'Reptile and Amphibian Hobbyist' magazine back in 1999. The best information I possess says they can be sexed based on confirmation and sexual behavior. On the odd chance that one will evert it's hemipenes that of course can be definitive, but everting of hemipenes is rare.
>>
>>Basically, the males have more prominent brow ridges and their heads are larger and more set off from the body than with females. Females have smaller more streamlined heads and tend to be physically smaller than males of the same age. When housing multiple individuals of both sexes together under optimal conditions sexual behavior may be exhibited as well. This can be males chasing females and attempting to mate by pressing their body against the female as well as biting the neck of the female.
>>
>>Now, even with all that, I have a group of 5 and I'm not 100 percent sure of their sex. As to breeding, it's difficult at best to get them to breed, provided you have a viable sex ratio. Only a very small handful of zoos that I know of have had success breeding them, and as far as I know no private individuals have had success with them. I'm sure there have been some private individuals who've had success with them but overall they're largely a curiosity in the herp trade, particularly here in the U.S. and as such no one really works with them in earnest - except me maybe.
>>-----
>>Matt Campbell
>>Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
>>Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois
>>
>>Assistant Curator
>>Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
>>Lake Forest, Illinois