Triturus marmoratus - male or female

[axolotlfreak56]

Just wanted someone to help confirm if I have both a male and female. It looks like they are male and female. The cloaca shapes are definitely different.
The first 2 pictures are what I believe to be the female and the last 2 should be the male.

 

[mizzerman]

If they are mature, females have an orange stripe down their back, males have a broken black and orange stripe.

 

[axolotlfreak56]

Ok, so correct me if I'm wrong. The cloaca isn't necessarily the best way to differentiate them?

 

[otolith]

Claoca shape/size can be used to sex immature animals but can be difficult if you do not know what you are looking at. Unfortunately I cannot help you here as I've always waited for secondary sexual characteristics to develop to accurately sex Triturus species.

Once the animals mature sexing becomes incredibly easy as males will develop a dorsal crest. In young or terrestrial males it is more of a small vertebral ridge but is still very easy to see. Perhaps someone else with more experience can chime in on cloaca shape.

 

[Redear]

My males are starting to move into the water and are developing their crests. Along with the dorsal crest, the tail changes shape becoming taller and flatter. A blue / white stripe may also appear. Keep in mind, as Otolith says, these are sexually mature males who are preparing to mate.

I haven't paid much attention to the cloaca outside the breeding season. But this thread has me interested in observing them when the males lose their sexual characteristics. That will probably be a couple months from now.