Introduction The eastern blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides), native to eastern Australia, is commonly kept as both a pet and for breeding. As a sexually monomorphic species, it is important to develop reliable techniques for sex identification, both for breeding and health purposes. Numerous techniques have been developed for the identification of sex in other reptile species but, other than possibly morphometric analysis, none have proven to be reliable in this species. Two techniques showing promise are contrast radiography of the hemepenes/ hemeclitores, and morphometrical analysis. This study looks at both techniques and compares them for accuracy. Methods and MaterialsTwenty captive eastern blue-tongued skinks (of known sex) were sedated, contrast radiography of their hemepenes /hemeclitores was performed, and physical measurements were taken for morphometric analysis. The radiographs were examined by a panel of three researchers (blinded to the known sex) to identify sex. The morphometric data were statistically analysed, following a previously published methodology, and the individual sex identified. Again, the researchers were blinded to the known sex. ResultsThe contrast radiography technique was 100% accurate in correctly identifying the sex of all the skinks. Morphometric analysis was, by contrast, only 70% accurate. Conclusion and ClinicalRelevance Physical differences between wild and captive skinks, as well as different environmental and nutritional factors, may have contributed to the lower accuracy of morphometric analysis in identifying the sex of eastern blue-tongued skinks. While contrast radiography was more accurate, the need for specialised equipment may render this technique impractical for field researchers, but more suitable for owned animals. More research is needed to assess the impact of captivity on eastern blue-tongued skinks' physical morphometrics.Keywords contrast radiography; eastern blue-tongued; hemeclitores; hemepenes; morphometrics; sex identification; skink Abbreviations H, widest point of the head; H/SVL%, head width divided by snout-vent length; H/T%, head width divided by trunk length.; HL, head length from the rostral tip of the head to the back of the ears; SVL, snout-vent length from the rostral tip of the head to the middle of the vent; T, trunk length from the middle of the forelimbs to the middle of the hindlimbs; TBL, total body length from the rostral tip of the head to the distal tip of the tail; TW, tail width at the widest point of the proximal tail
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