One of the main gender distinctions among turtles is their size.
Females are normally much larger than males because of the strict physical demands of laying eggs.
The actual breeding processes of turtles depend greatly on the temperature. For males the beginning of the spermatogenesis process requires a warm body temperature. Many females need cooler temperatures in order to stimulate ovarian activity. The vitellogenesis period often begins in late summer and autumn, with the egg-laying occurring in late spring and summer. Older turtles are reproductively active for longer periods than the younger ones, and turtles rarely pair up and stay with one single mate for their entire lives.