The center of the plastron of the female bell-backed tortoise is flat, without depression, the tail is short, and the cloacal opening is closer to the rear edge of the plastron; The more sunken the plastron, the longer and stouter the tail, and the farther the cloacal hole is from the rear edge of the plastron.

Male tortoises are narrower and longer , the female bell-patterned tortoise is more rounded. Male turtles have thick and long tails, while female turtles are fat and short. The male turtle's cloaca is farther from the anal shield, while the female turtle is the opposite.