Sexing Desert Tortoises

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All desert tortoise hatchlings have flat-bottomed shells

(plastrons) for their first 10-15 years.  After that time, the

rear half of the male's bottom shell begins to develop a

concavity.  The female tortoise's plastron remains flat.

Exceptions to this rule are occasionally noted.  The average male

desert tortoise weighs 9-14 lbs, while the average female weighs

6-11 lbs.