The presence of sex-specific differences in the external appearance of a species is called sexual dimorphism. This trait is not unique to herps—many animals are dimorphic, including humans. Not all reptile and amphibian species are sexually dimorphic, and the ones that are span a wide range of differences from “obvious to a layman from a distance” all the way down to “really have to know what to look for and bring a micrometer.” Some differences are unique to one particular species, while other indicators hold true across dozens or hundreds of genera. Sexual dimorphism can take many forms, such as overall size, head shape, tail length or shape, claw length, eye color, skin color, or other features.
This lesson is part of Certified Herpetological Guide. Enrollment is self-paced, with no deadline to finish (about 50 hours).
