We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Reptiles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Characteristics of a Female Bearded Dragon?

By Bethney Foster
Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 11,628
References
Share

A female bearded dragon has only one characteristic that can definitely differentiate her from a male bearded dragon by appearance. The most definite characteristic of a female bearded dragon is the lack of a hemipenal bulge, whereas the male bearded dragon will have two hemipenal bulges. This characteristic of gender, however, usually isn't visible in hatchling dragons and young juvenile dragons, though it does become easier to determine gender in adult bearded dragons.

The hemipenal bulges are located beneath the male bearded dragon's tail, above the ventral opening. In males, hemipenal bulges will be visible on both sides of the tail. The female lack hemipenes, but there will be a slight bulge in the center of her tail above the ventral opening. Although this is the only characteristic by which to determine with certainty the gender of a bearded dragon, there are other general characteristics that are more common in males than in females, and vice versa.

One of the characteristics of bearded dragons is their ability to puff out their beards and turn their beards dark. Females can do this as well was males, but males generally display this behavior more often than females, and males' beards usually turn darker in color than do the beards of female dragons. The dragon puffs out its beard and turns it dark as part of courtship routines, when the bearded dragon is feeling the need to defend its territory or when bearded dragon feels threatened.

Sizes of bearded dragons aren't a characteristic of gender, although the female bearded dragon will in general have a smaller head than her male counterparts do. Males often have thicker tails than females, although this can't be used to determine gender. A bearded dragon's tail thickens as it ages, so an older female bearded dragon might have a thicker tale than a younger male bearded dragon.

In many instances, female bearded dragons show less-aggressive behavior than male bearded dragons, but as with other characteristics, this isn't always true. Bearded dragons reach sexual maturity as young as eight months. Female bearded dragons will dig, attempting to create burrows in which to lay their eggs. Even if a female bearded dragon doesn't mate, she still might lay eggs, with about 20 eggs in a clutch. A male bearded dragon might also be seen digging burrows, however, because some bearded dragons also dig burrows for sleeping and during times of stress.

Share
All Things Nature is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.allthingsnature.org/what-are-the-characteristics-of-a-female-bearded-dragon.htm
Copy this link
All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.