School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland.
School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Aust Vet J. 2022 Aug;100(8):407-413. doi: 10.1111/avj.13170. Epub 2022 May 12.
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.
Twenty 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.
The contrast radiography technique was 100% accurate in correctly identifying the sex of all the skinks. Morphometric analysis was, by contrast, only 70% accurate.
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.
原产于澳大利亚东部的东部蓝舌石龙子（Tiliqua scincoides scincoides）通常被作为宠物饲养和繁殖。由于该物种具有性别二态性，因此开发可靠的性别鉴定技术非常重要，无论是繁殖还是健康目的。已经开发出许多用于鉴定其他爬行动物性别的技术，但除了形态测量分析外，在该物种中没有一种被证明是可靠的。两种有前途的技术是半阴茎/半阴茎的对比放射照相术和形态测量分析。本研究探讨了这两种技术，并比较了它们的准确性。
对 20 只圈养的东部蓝舌石龙子（已知性别）进行镇静处理，对其半阴茎/半阴茎进行对比放射照相，并进行形态测量分析以获取物理测量值。由三名研究人员（对已知性别不知情）组成的小组检查放射照片以鉴定性别。根据之前发表的方法对形态测量数据进行统计分析，并确定个体的性别。同样，研究人员对已知性别不知情。
对比放射照相技术能够 100％准确地识别所有石龙子的性别。相比之下，形态测量分析的准确率仅为 70％。
野生和圈养石龙子之间的物理差异以及不同的环境和营养因素可能导致形态测量分析在鉴定东部蓝舌石龙子性别方面的准确性降低。虽然对比放射照相术更准确，但需要专用设备可能会使该技术不适用于野外研究人员，但更适合拥有动物的人。需要进一步研究来评估圈养对东部蓝舌石龙子身体形态的影响。
