Everyone who studied at school must attend biology classes. However, if you ask a hundred people what the turtle looks like inside, 99 of them will not be able to answer. There is an opinion that any Tortilla can safely leave his leathery house and go for a walk. Let's see if this is so. What does a turtle without a shell look like and what is it for her - a dwelling or clothes? Let's try to answer these questions.
Lazy evolution
As you know, nature is very slow. For every, sometimes insignificant change, it takes many years, or even hundreds of years. A vivid example of this can be Odontochelys semitestacea or an ancient tortoise without a shell. More than two hundred million years ago, this amphibian really did not have its own "house" and was very easy prey for predators. Fortunately, evolution intervened, and the great-grandmother of the turtle got its first half of the shell - a shield on the belly.
Yes, the turtles house was formed gradually, first its lower part, and then the upper one. This is due to the fact that the main natural enemies of Odontochelys semitestacea most often attacked them from the side of the belly. With the advent of a protective shield, a tortoise without a shell became less vulnerable, but pretty soon predators learned to attack from the other side - from above. And here again Mother Nature intervened - Odontochelys semitestacea got its real, full-fledged shell, which we can observe today.
Modern turtle
As you already understood, these amphibians are quite ancient creatures. According to scientists, their appearance has not changed over the past 140-150 million years. It was at this point that the ancient tortoise without the shell received the final “two-sided” version of its house.
The shell of a modern turtle, like 150 million years ago, consists of two parts:
- carapace - upper, dorsal part of the shell;
- Plastron - lower, abdominal plate.
In general, Tortilla's house is a complex skin-bone formation that helps amphibians protect themselves from adverse external influences. In the event of unforeseen danger, the turtle can completely hide inside the soft parts of its body: head, paws and tail.
What does the tortoise shell consist of ?
Those who claim that a tortoise without a shell can live absolutely calmly, simply did not study well at school, or skipped biology classes. To be sure that this is not so, let's look at the structure of the shell.
So, as already mentioned, the turtle house consists of two parts - the lower and upper, spliced together. Contrary to popular belief, Tortilla's shell is not solid, but consists of many leather and bone shields. In total, amphibians have from forty to sixty such plates. The seams of the inner bony plates and the outer horn flaps do not match - this gives the shell its strength.
The turtle house grows centered, that is, new plates appear around the edges. In young amphibians, individuals are quite often found in which the carapace is open on the sides, as if they are between two covers. Such turtles are very vulnerable, but over time the carapace closes in strong reliable armor.
Can Tortilla live without a shell
The turtle house is not just attached to his body - he fuses with part of the skeleton, with ribs. Therefore, unlike the snail, which can leave its shell and even build up a new one, the turtle cannot leave its shell. She grows with him throughout her life.
In nature, there are more than three hundred species of turtles, some of them quite easily carry captivity. Among them is the red-eared turtle. Without a shell, she, like everyone else, cannot live. However, some breeders occasionally encounter changes in the carapace of a pet. For example, a leathery shield can become stained, peel and crack, soften.
Soft Shell - Normal or Disease
If your favorite is a red-eared turtle, a soft shell without signs of life can be an indicator of a very sad event. One of the most common diseases in this type of amphibian (when kept in captivity) is banal rickets. The softening of the carapace indicates that the animal is deficient in calcium and vitamin D. If emergency treatment is not started, the pet may die. To avoid unpleasant consequences, it is necessary to introduce sufficient doses of calcium and vitamins into the Tortilla diet, as well as regularly arrange ultraviolet “baths”. The vet will help you choose the right drugs.
However, the soft shell of a turtle is not always a sign of illness. In young animals up to a year is a normal condition. By the age of 11-12 months, the skeleton of a red-eared turtle will completely harden, and the house will become reliable.
3 myths about turtles
Wisdom. No special mind and more wisdom was found over many centuries of their existence. Of course, like many other animals, turtles can feel a person’s mood and even respond to it.
Slowness. Under normal conditions, these amphibians are very slow, but this does not mean at all that they cannot run pretty fast. Some individuals can reach speeds of about 1 km / h. And it is on land. In water, these creatures are able to move 30 times faster.
Inability to train . Of course, the turtle is not a dog; it is not capable of bringing slippers to its owner. But if you often talk to her, she will begin to nod in response and even wave her paw. You can also teach her how to play ball. To do this, leave a small bright ball in the aquarium and move away. Due to natural curiosity, Tortilla will soon begin to push him in front of him.
Interesting Facts
As we have already found out, a tortoise without a shell existed only at the dawn of its evolution. And what other interesting facts can be told about them?
- The tortoise house consists of fifty different parts and only seems to us a single whole.
- The cervical spine of this amphibian consists of eight parts. To draw its head in, the turtle is forced to fold its neck three times, in the form of the English letter S.
- Some species of Tortillas are able to tightly close the holes for the head and tail with moving shields on the shell.
- Much earlier than the famous Squirrels and Arrows, it was the turtles that went to the moon. It happened in 1968 in the Soviet Union. Amphibians were not only alive, but also quite healthy, only slightly lost weight.
- Many turtles are cruel predators. Despite the fact that they have no teeth at all, they eat their prey using a strong leathery beak.
- They do not have vocal chords, but still they can make sounds - a hoot, grunt, hiss, and something like a cluck. They do it in a special way, shaking their heads and causing the air to compress in their lungs.
- Some species of turtles can breathe through the backside. The anus (cesspool) in them is closed by a special membrane, which, when stored under water for a long time, is able to pass oxygen into the blood.
We hope the article was interesting to you.