Turtle Shell
The most defining feature of a turtle is their shell. It is what we associate with the turtle and even when we talk about a shy person, we say that they need to come out of their shell, much like a turtle.
However, what exactly is the shell?
The Name
The upper part of the shell is called the carapace, while the lower part of the shell that covers the body is called the plastron. These two sides of the turtle shell join together in bridges, with the inner layer of a turtle shell being made up of about 60 bones, which means that the turtle cannot get out of its shell.
The Shape
The shape of the shell can give a very good indication of how the turtle lives. Most have a dome shaped turtle shell that makes it very hard for predators to crush between their jaws. However, some turtles have flat shells that allows them to hide in rock crevices, while most aquatic turtles have flat turtle shells to aid in diving.
The snapping turtles of North America have cross-shaped plastrons that give them better leg movement when walking on stream and pond bottoms.
The Color
The color of a turtle shell can vary greatly, with the most common colors being brown, black, or olive green, however some species have a turtle shell that is red, orange or yellow. The painted turtle, considered one of the most colorful, has yell, black, olive and red on it.
Conclusion
Turtle shells are a very well known feature of the turtle, like the tail of a beaver or the antlers of an elk. As a result, they make the turtle one of the most popular types of animals in the world. However, that popularity comes at a price as the turtle shell was valued greatly by the rich in decades past, who would fashion it into jewelry or some sort of ornament that could be kept in a castle or house.
Thankfully, there have been protections put on turtles and their shells, to keep the species from going extinct. Like the rhino and the elephant, the turtle shell, which is their most defining characteristic, can also be the downfall.
However, the turtle shell is a very beautiful part of the turtle, while serving as a means of defense against predators. It is not surprising that the species has held onto the feature for 200 million years.