Sea turtle shells balance strength, flexibility, and speed to ensure survival. A new study reveals surprising differences ...

A sea turtle’s shell is a complex masterpiece, made up of two parts: the carapace (top) and the plastron (bottom), both covered in scutes – tough keratin plates tightly attached to the bone. The bone ...

Unlike crabs, a turtle cannot change or shed its shell. As the turtle grows, so does its shell. The scutes on its shell peel away to make room for bigger ones. 5 Keep your flippers inside the ...

1), allowing for shell injury to be anatomically described in terms of location and extent. Figure 1: Names of the individual scutes of an eastern long-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis).

A sea turtle’s shell is a masterpiece. A new study reveals that marine turtle shells combine flexibility and strength to protect against predators like sharks and stress while optimizing movement.