Desert Tortoise's Flat Shell Back

by Don
(Bakersfield)

My wife has a CA. desert tortoise approximately 3- 4 years old. My dad lives in the desert and has a male and female which hatch about 10 babies a year. When we received her baby it was about a year old. It is kept in the house and to my knowledge has never hibernated. It eats quite well and seems to be okay except for one concern. The tortoise's back of the shell is not domed but rather more flat. This flat area is in the center of the shell. I asked my dad about this and he said it must be a female since it isn't domed like a male's. He said this is how they're able to mate. It makes sense to me but maybe you can "shed more light" on this concern so that my wife will stop worrying about it. I wish I had a digital camera so I could send you an image.