Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Don't know how often this gets asked, but I reviewed the last 5 pages of the forum and didn't see it so here goes... Over the past 3 years I've been trying to build a breeding group of leopard tortoises as opportunities permitted. Only recently have I gone to the classifieds and discovered that two subspecies exist. I have no idea what or what mixture of the two subspecies I have. If I have a mixture, will they interbreed? Will someone please explain the differences or refer me to a website that answers my question? Also, just a comment, not to generate any debates. I was told by a local breeder that 1 yr and older leopards can easily be sexed by the shape of the cloacal opening in the plastron. The males being narrower and more "V" shaped, and the females being larger and more "U" shaped to allow passage of the eggs. This is easily distinguishable in my leopards, and seems to coincide with the tail length judgment calls. Anyone else use this method?

There are 2 forms with the only way to distinguish them apart appearing to be at hatching.
As adults you would be very hard pressed to tell them apart... unless you know exactly where they originated.
The shape of the plastron is a good 'rule of thumb' IF you have a relatively 'normally' developed animal.
Ed

I know very little about it except for what I have recently read. The following link has some info. I also read somewhere if the tort has one spot then it is likely a P.Babcocki but could still be a P. Pardalis, but if it has 2 spots then it is a P.Pardalis.

Maybe you already knew this!
Link

It will be another 4 yrs or so before I have any ready to breed. I'll take some pictures to post later for any additional inputs. Thanks again.
Paul