Animals Unique | Turtle | Turtles are Reptiles, and there are about 250 different species of them living inthe Oceans, lakes, streams, forests and deserts on all the world's Continentsexcept Antarctica. They Might even be in your own yard.
But what's the first thing you're Likely to notice when you look at a turtle? Probablyits shell and, specifically, the shape of that shell: Is it domed or flat? The shape ofa turtle shell depends on the species and the turtle's habitat. Most land-dwellingturtles have high-domed shells, the which help protect them from the jaws ofpredators, while most aquatic turtles have a more streamlined, flat shell That letsthem glide through the water.Whether domed or flat, shells are made up of two parts: the carapace and thePlastron. The carapace is the upper part of the shell That covers the turtle's back.The Plastron That is the bottom half covers the belly. A bony bridge fastens thetwo together at the side of the turtle. For the many species of turtles Able to retractinto their shells, a hinge allows the carapace and Plastron to close tightly when theturtle draws in and also joins the two halves together.
But what's the first thing you're Likely to notice when you look at a turtle? Probablyits shell and, specifically, the shape of that shell: Is it domed or flat? The shape ofa turtle shell depends on the species and the turtle's habitat. Most land-dwellingturtles have high-domed shells, the which help protect them from the jaws ofpredators, while most aquatic turtles have a more streamlined, flat shell That letsthem glide through the water.Whether domed or flat, shells are made up of two parts: the carapace and thePlastron. The carapace is the upper part of the shell That covers the turtle's back.The Plastron That is the bottom half covers the belly. A bony bridge fastens thetwo together at the side of the turtle. For the many species of turtles Able to retractinto their shells, a hinge allows the carapace and Plastron to close tightly when theturtle draws in and also joins the two halves together.
Both the carapace and the Plastron are made of bone, Including about 50 to 60rib and back bones in the upper shell and a fusion of clavicle and rib bones in thelower shell.
On top of the bone, each half shell is covered with scutes, Sometimes calledshields, the which are overlapping pieces of keratin (the same substance ashuman fingernails). The scutes Provide a protective coating. (There's always anexception: Leatherback turtles and other soft-shelled species trade scutes for atough skin cartilage instead.)
A turtle's shell provides intricate skeletal protection, but can a turtle outgrow it?Let's find out, next.
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