Red-footed tortoises are difficult to distinguish between males and females when they are young. When it grows a little bigger, it can be roughly distinguished by the characteristics of their plastron and tail: under normal circumstances, the plastron of male turtles is concave, and the plastron of female turtles is flat.

The male tortoise's tail is long and thick, its tail The distance from the end to the excretory hole is relatively far; the tail of the female turtle is relatively short and thin, and the distance of the tail end from the excretory hole is also relatively close. In addition, the hip shields of female and male turtles are also different. Usually the rump shield of male turtles is flared, while the rump shield of female turtles is closed.