Some creatures, it seems, just don't want you to be able tell their sex too easily. The physical differences between male and female armadillo lizards aren't clearly visible. You might need a measuring tape to tell girl and boy armadillo lizards apart.
I'm The Boy
This lizard is named after the armadillo because it can roll into a ball for protection. Both genders are yellowish-brown, which helps them blend in to their arid semidesert habitat. The male is larger, typically 2.95 to 4.13 inches from the tip of his nose to the base of his tail. The male also has a larger head and a longer tail. The male also has more distinct femoral pores. These holes on the lizard's inner thighs secrete scents to mark territory. The male's pores are always larger than the female's.The sex organs aren't visible, so you might be able to differentiate between the genders only if you observe these lizards mating, or if the female lays an egg. The male displays very territorial behavior and likes to defend his spot, whereas the female moves around male territories.
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Writer Bio
Based in London, Eleanor McKenzie has been writing lifestyle-related books and articles since 1998. Her articles have appeared in the "Palm Beach Times" and she is the author of numerous books published by Hamlyn U.K., including "Healing Reiki" and "Pilates System." She holds a Master of Arts in informational studies from London University.
