Sexing Rhopalurus garridoi

Sexing Rhopalurus garridoi.

Sexual dimorphism of the chela is significant from 6.instar at both sexes.



Females: Their chela is able to close fully with no gaps in between the tibia and tarsus

Males: They have a noticeable gap between the tibia and tarsus when the chela is fully closed.

- Sexing is NOT accurate by trying to observe a more bulbous chela which supposingly belongs to an adult male:

- Sexing is NOT accurate by comparing pectine tooth counts, due to the overlapping figures between males and females

- Yes, by comparing a 6.instar pair, a male's chela might be slightly more bulbous than the female:


- but as the female attains 7.instar, the size of the female's chela easily "overwhelm" a males' in terms of a bulbous outlook:




Regards,
GS