BONELUST SCIENCE LESSON: Many people think that the spinal column and ribcage of a turtle/tortoise just runs through a turtle's shell. No, it is actually attached TO the top (carapace) of the shell. The carapace is the dorsal (back), convex part of the shell structure of a turtle, consisting of the animal's ribcage combined with dermal bone. The spine and ribs are fused to dermal plates beneath the skin which interlock to form a hard shell. Exterior to the skin the shell is covered by scutes, which are plates made of keratin that protect the shell from scrapes and bruises. _ The turtle shell is a highly complicated shield for the ventral and dorsal parts of turtles, tortoises and terrapins, completely enclosing all the vital organs of the turtle and in some cases even the head. It is constructed of modified bony elements such as the ribs, parts of the pelvis and other bones found in most reptiles. Therefore turtles have no backs. 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. _ The shell of the turtle is an important study, not just because of the obvious protection it provides for the animal, but also as an identification tool, in particular with fossils as the shell is one of the likely parts of a turtle to survive fossilization. Hence understanding the structure of the shell in living species gives us comparable material with fossils.🐢🐢🐢 _ #bonelustsciencelesson #turtleanatomy #turtleskeleton #tortoiseanatomy #tortoiseskeleton #tortoiseanatomy https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo6DeAiAt2E/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12h3ukq6rqahi