New Ways Of Sexing Cynops Orientalis??

[froganole]

As everyone knows, the way of sexing Cynops Orientalis is males have swollen cloacas in breeding season but, by observing 1 of my females and my male i have found that my female has a less paddle-like tale and rougher skin. Obviously my male has smoother skin and a more paddle like tail (and the swollen cloaca). Could this be a new way of sexing or is it just characteristic of my newts? Check your Cynops Orientalis for this and please reply.

 

[Yahilles]

Male's tails are more paddle-like as you said, and shorter compared to the rest of the body. They're of course way smaller (like 2cm shorter) than females, and the space getween front and rear legs seems to be shorter.
Plus they have something in their eyes, that you look at them and you see they're males.

 

[Azhael]

As Janusz says, there are a number of morphological differences. Cloacal differences are the traditional way to sex them simply because it´s the most obvious, most reliable parameter in adult newts. All the other characteristics are highly variable and less reliable. Tail size and shape is generaly a very good indicator, as well as total size, but neither are 100% reliable. You could find females with unusually short and rounded tails, or males the size of females...

 

[eljorgo]

As everyone knows, the way of sexing Cynops Orientalis is males have swollen cloacas in breeding season but, by observing 1 of my females and my male i have found that my female has a less paddle-like tale and rougher skin. Obviously my male has smoother skin and a more paddle like tail (and the swollen cloaca). Could this be a new way of sexing or is it just characteristic of my newts? Check your Cynops Orientalis for this and please reply.

Well I guess this is something we already know for a really long time? Nothing new here...

As Janusz says, there are a number of morphological differences. Cloacal differences are the traditional way to sex them simply because it´s the most obvious, most reliable parameter in adult newts. All the other characteristics are highly variable and less reliable. Tail size and shape is generaly a very good indicator, as well as total size, but neither are 100% reliable. You could find females with unusually short and rounded tails, or males the size of females...

Rodrigo, well you cant count individuals with deformations... that's the same thing I tell somebody boxers do get born with no tail (when tail is amputated right after the are born...)

 

[Azhael]

I´m not talking about deformations, i´m talking about simple natural variation between individuals. Not all females are the same size, and not all of them have exactly the same tail shape, nor all the males are that small...That makes most physical traits unreliable if taken individually. Age is a very important factor too, as young animals, even if sexually mature, may not have fully developed all the secondary sexual characteristics, other than cloacal shape.

 

[froganole]

That is all very good to know... i guess i will not become famous for discovering a new way to sex cynops orientalis

 

[Yahilles]

Tip: you will not become famous even for breeding them in captivity!

 

[Chamaeleo]

An other difference: as in many other newt species, males have a bit longer toes than females, but it's not so striking as in e.g. Triturus species.

 

[Azhael]

It´s true, but the difference is very insignificant in Hypselotriton orientalis. Not a reliable feature, but if it´s taken as part of several other clues, it can certainly help.

 

[Chamaeleo]

It´s true, but the difference is very insignificant in Hypselotriton orientalis.

Yes, I know (and I sex them not this way), but if we're talking about the sexual dimorphism of this species, I thought it should be mentioned.