Anatomy Of A Turtle Shell

They all have a head with eyes on either side and a beak like mouth. Turtles are reptiles whose protection comes from a shell.

Sheldon Comics Anatomy Of A Turtle Animalkickstarter Com

The scutes are made of keratin the primary substance in hair nails and hooves of other animals.

Anatomy of a turtle shell. The anatomy of the sea turtle is unique in that it is one of the few creatures to have both an internal and external skeleton. Turtles and tortoises have a body covered in a shell four legs that extend from their body and many have a tail extending from the rear of their shell as well. A turtle is easily identifiable because of the giant shells it carries on its back.

Shell provide protection from predators and are key to their long lasting survival but they have also limited the diversity of turtle species. Foremost part of a tortoise which is attached to the trunk. Some turtles have a moveable joint usually in the plastron which acts as a hinge and allows the turtle to pull the carapace and plastron together tightly while the turtle retracts its body into the shell.

The shells are either oval or heart shaped and are very hard except the leatherback species which has a soft leathery tissue and a set of bony plates beneath it. In most turtles the outer layer of the shell is covered by horny scales called scutes that are part of its outer skin or epidermis. Sea turtles feature a diversity of colors in their shell including olive green brown yellow orange and black.

The bone of the shell consists of both skeletal and dermal bone showing that the complete enclosure of the shell probably evolved by including dermal armor into the rib cage. Part of a tortoise between the head and the body. In all species except the leatherback the external skeleton whose main purpose is to provide protection and support for internal organs is comprised of a bony shell which is itself divided into two halves.

The inner layer of a turtles shell is made up of about 60 bones that include portions of the backbone and the ribs meaning the turtle cannot crawl out of its shell. The plastron has a hinge that divides the bottom shell into two halves which can be drawn up to the carapace and close the shell up like a box. The lower plastron and the upper carapace.

It is constructed of modified bony elements such as the ribs parts of the pelvis and other bones found in most reptiles. Scale above the tortoises spinal column. The shell is composed of hard bone plates covered by scutes.

Hard plate that forms the shell of the tortoise close to the nape of the neck. Turtle shell anatomy scutes. The shell is fused with both the ribs and the spine of a turtle.

The lower part of the shell is called the plastron and connects directly to the carapace. Hatchling box turtles do not have a hinge but develop one after a year or two. A bony bridge joins the carapace and the plastron along the side of the turtle.

Can You Remove A Turtle From Its Shell Without Killing It