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Daily reminder that turtles are not “inside” their shells. They *are* their shells.
Quick guide:
mollusk shells = exoskeleton (they can often leave them)
veterbrate shells (turtle/tortoise) = endoskeleton (they can't leave them, it's part of their spine)
mollusk shells = exoskeleton (they can often leave them)
veterbrate shells (turtle/tortoise) = endoskeleton (they can't leave them, it's part of their spine)
bonus:
spines/quills/feathers/reptile scales = hair (keratin)
fish scales = teeth/bones
spines/quills/feathers/reptile scales = hair (keratin)
fish scales = teeth/bones
Turtles can hide in their shells. It looks like this.
It does not look like this.
They don't have a secret cavern in there. There's no mini-fridge. It's not a Pokeball.
They don't have a secret cavern in there. There's no mini-fridge. It's not a Pokeball.
S/O to cartoons and stock image sites for ruining our collective turtle anatomy knowledge for years to come
Also, some people will try to tell you this is an image of a turtle outside its shell. It's not.
It's a soft-shelled turtle (those exist! instead of scutes they cover the solid bit of their carpace, or shell, with leathery skin. They do still have a shell, just a small one )
It's a soft-shelled turtle (those exist! instead of scutes they cover the solid bit of their carpace, or shell, with leathery skin. They do still have a shell, just a small one )
Another fun fact for you: Turtles breathe out their butts. Yup. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/did-you-know/turtles-breathe-out-their-butt
Technically the term is cloacal respiration, and it’s not so much breathing as just diffusing oxygen in and carbon dioxide out, but the fact remains: when turtles hibernate, their main source of oxygen is through their butt.
Basically when the water they live in gets cold they get cold since they’re cold blooded animals.
Their metabolisms and oxygen needs slow down so they can get all the O2 they need from the water passing over their cloacas.
Their metabolisms and oxygen needs slow down so they can get all the O2 they need from the water passing over their cloacas.
Is this a good time to remind any editors reading that I am a freelance science writer who has a mess of topics I’d love to write about? Take a peek at then here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BUFcvAeeQhPoJ5BOCJhOJZTImwQD239U-sctUkzXYZk
See my website (link in description) for my writing samples!
See my website (link in description) for my writing samples!
