Male vs Female Bearded Dragons: Difference and Comparison

The most confusing part about the species of bearded dragons is telling the difference between male and female bearded dragons.

Therefore, a male-breaded dragon must be distinguished from a female-breaded dragon so that one can be sure of which one he would like to get. 

Key Takeaways

1. Male bearded dragons have larger heads and bodies, while females are smaller and more slender.
2. Males have larger femoral pores and hemipenal bulges, which females lack or have less pronounced.
3. Males display more territorial and aggressive behavior, whereas females are more docile.

Male vs Female Bearded Dragons 

Male bearded dragons are larger than females and have a more muscular build. They also have a broader head, a slightly larger tail base, and longer femoral pores. Female bearded dragons are smaller than males and have a more slender build. They have a narrower head and a smaller tail base. Females also have shorter femoral pores compared to males.

Defining a male bearded dragon can be a relatively difficult task as the traits of a male arrive only when the animal reaches its maturity age. In the early days, all bearded dragons showed the characteristics of a female.

Talking about a male bearded dragon, it happens to possess a tail that is very wide in shape, and there happened to be two bumps on the tail.

This animal happens to be relatively aggressive and shows dominance above others of its species. 

But on the other hand, a Female Bearded Dragon can be explained as an animal with a relatively narrow tail and just one bump upon it.

Apart from this, this animal happens to be considerably submissive and does not show dominance over other animals. Its tail appears as a defence mechanism and gives birth to the offspring of bearded dragons. 

Comparison Table  

Parameters of Comparison	Male Bearded Dragons	Female Bearded Dragons
Meaning	The male member of bearded dragons’ species with a wider tail and dominant traits.	The female member of bearded dragons’ species with a narrower tail and submissive traits.
Tail	A very thick and wide tail with two large bumps on it.	A relatively thin tail with just one bump upon it.
Reason for showing beard	Shows beard as a reason for defense.	Shows beard as a reason for mating
Nature	It happens to have a dominant nature and does not share its territory with others of its species.	It happens to have a submissive nature and shares its territory with others.
Head size	Larger in size	Smaller in size
Use of spikes	This animal shows spikes to tell that he seeks to mate.	This animal shows spikes out of threat.
Digging of holes	This animal digs holes to hibernate.	This animal digs holes to lay eggs.

What are Male Bearded Dragons? 

Defined by the name itself, a male bearded dragon happens to be the male member of a male bearded dragon’s species. This animal does not show any distinctive traits in the early days, and primarily it looks female-only. 

But with the passing of time, the traits of a male animal appear in it, and these traits can be differentiated very easily. The tail of this animal happens to be very thick, and there are two bumps over this tail.  

The head of this animal happens to be very large, and there is a beard and spikes there on the head. This animal shows its beard when it feels that it is under attack, and it shows its spikes when it feels like mating. 

The nature of this animal happens to be very dominant as it never allows other similar animals to live in its territory. It digs many holes to hibernate and keep itself warm. 

What are Female Bearded Dragons? 

A female bearded dragon is a member of the bearded dragon species and carries many distinctive features, and happens to be very distinctive in nature as compared to the male bearded dragon. 

With a very light beard, this animal carries a very thin tail, and there is just one bump upon it. This animal carries a very small head and a very distinctive smell.

This animal waves its beard when it feels like mating and shows its spikes when it feels under attack. 

The nature of this animal is very neutral and less aggressive, and it easily allows its counterpart animals to share territories. Due to this submissive nature, the durability of its life and the probability of harm is very less. 

This animal digs holes when it feels like laying eggs and builds a protective boundary for its children. These eggs get mature in around fifty-five days or something.  

Main Differences Between Male and Female Bearded Dragons 

1. A Male Bearded Dragon is a male member of the bearded dragon species with a wider tail and dominant traits. But on the other hand, a Female Bearded Dragon is a female member of the bearded dragon species with a narrower tail and submissive traits. 
2. The male bearded dragon happens to have a larger head, while a female dragon carries a smaller head. 
3. The male bearded dragon has a thick tail, while a female bearded dragon has a thin tail. 
4. The male bearded dragon shows a beard when it feels defensive, while a female bearded dragon shows a beard when it feels like mating. 
5. The male bearded dragon happens to be very dominant, while the female bearded dragon happens to be very submissive. 

References 

1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1442446 
2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13227-017-0087-5  

Last Updated : 14 October, 2023