How to Tell Your Iguana's Sex

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     If you're like virtually every other owner, you'll want to know what sex your iguana is. It is impossible to tell until they reach sexual maturity. Therefore, you'll have to wait a few years if you get a baby iguana.

Females reach maturity when grow about 10 inches from snout to vent, while males do so about six inches from snout to vent. If your iguana is mature, there are a few ways you can tell what sex it is.

Tail

Males have hemipenal bulges near the base of the tail. Therefore, they are thicker than those of females. You should be able to spot the bulges easily if you turn your iguana on its side.

Femoral Pores

You can also help distinguish your iguana's sex by looking at the femoral pores. These pores are lines of dots that appear along the inside of the thighs. Males have large pores that are usually filled with a waxy substance. On the other hand, females have small pores that don't produce a waxy substance.

Jaw

One of the main differences between males and females is their jowl. Males have very large muscles on both sides of their lower jaw. Therefore, males are known for their enlarged jowls. Females have more pronounced jowls.

Head

Another common difference between sexes is the head. Females have smaller and sleeker heads. Males are usually block heads. This is much more pronounced due to the large jowls discussed previously. If you have a male, then you should also notice fatty deposits above the ear and behind the eye. Females don't have these fatty deposits.

Spikes

One of the final differences is the length of the dorsal spikes. Females have shorter dorsal spikes down their back. Male dorsal spikes are longer. The difference is very noticeable along the neck area.