Male turtle tails are generally long and thick, while female turtle tails are generally short and thin.

Turtles generally need to weigh more than 1kg before they can be distinguished as male or female. They can be distinguished from the nails, plastron, anal position and tail.

The male turtle's front claw nails are longer than the female turtle's; the male turtle's plastron is slightly concave, while the female turtle's plastron is flatter and smoother; the male turtle's cloaca is more slender in shape and farther from the abdomen. The carapace is farther away, and the cloaca of female turtles is round and closer to the plastron. Most turtles are carnivorous and feed on worms, snails, shrimps and small fish, as well as the stems and leaves of plants.