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It is a defenseless animal: without the shell, the turtle would leave its main organs completely exposed to predators. Also a trademark of tortoises and tortoises, the shell is made up of three main components:
1. Outer layer
It is made of keratin, a fibrous protein found in our nails and hair.
2. Bone structure
Gives strength to the shell and is part of the turtle’s skeleton
3. Membrane
Oozes from the top and bottom of the hoof to coat the animal’s muscles and organs internally
Without this true protective case, you would be able to see all the “inner beauty” of this slow reptile. “If we dissect a turtle and remove its carapace and its plastron (upper and lower portion of the shell, respectively), we will be able to see the lungs, kidneys, liver, heart, pancreas and the entire internal structure of the animal”, says the researcher. biologist Antônio de Pádua Almeida, from Projeto Tamar, which fights for the preservation of the animal in Brazil. Contrary to what cartoons are always showing, turtles cannot remove their shell, as it is fused to the rest of the body. When the animal grows, new layers of keratin are deposited, and the hoof also increases in size.
Lungs would be the most exposed organs without the upper hoof
BODIES
Between the lower part of the shell (plastron) and some of the turtle’s organs, there is a layer of muscles, especially the large pectoral muscles. The lungs, in turn, are the organs that are closest to the top of the hull (carapace)
SKELETON
In comparison with our body, the shell of the turtle corresponds to the spine and ribs. The bones of the legs, tail and neck are attached to it and have the ability to retract, allowing the turtle to «hide» under the shell.