Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone have theories on this? Is the sex of helodermatids determined via genetics or temperature?

-Chris
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Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC

To the best of my knowledge it is genetic. I've never heard any indications of temperature dependant sex determination in Heloderma.

I wish they could be temp influenced like a gecko.
But I doubt adult female gilas would be quite priceless on the market if it were so. Actually imo they are born about 2/1 m/f scewed on average, or maybe I'm just unlucky. In the six years or so I've been studying gilas and beadeds all twenty or so I've raised have ended up 60% male, both in gilas and beadeds......

peace

Varanids (sister taxon to Helodermatids) display both genetic and TSD depending on the species. Without producing hundreds of offspring (and knowing their sex), it is nearly impossible to know for sure without looking at chromosomes, etc...

Personally, I think the jury is still out on this one, but your observation of sex bias towards males is interesting.

-Chris
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Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC

Do you know of any research indicating they have genetic sex determination?

-Chris
-----
Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC

"Do you know of any research indicating they have genetic sex determination?"

No, my statement was purely educated speculation.