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Home Q & A Board Biology-Related Homework Help Zoology and Botany (Moderator: ehd123)
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colleen colleen
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11 years ago
Can turtles survive outside their shell?
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7 Replies
Sunshine ☀ ☼

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wrote...
#1
11 years ago
The shell is part of the turtle's body. The spinal column is attached to it and it also protects the heart that's underneath it. Living without it's shell is like us, living without our skin, or bones.
wrote...
#2
11 years ago
Yes and no. This is mainly because their shell is connected directly to their spine (look at the image). If their shell were to be removed, you would break their back in the process. Therefore, an animal could live without their back, but that would make them paralyzed and unlikely to survive in nature if it happened.
wrote...
#3
11 years ago
Turtles, in fact no turtle in history, has ever been able to get out of its shell. They cannot come out of their shells for biological reasons. They're not like hermit crabs, who live in snail shells. They differ, because a turtle's shell grows with it. A hermit crab, however, just finds a larger snail shell every time it needs a bigger one (learned that on the Simpsons lol). A turtle's shell is made up of a genetic compound called Keratin. It's the exact same material that makes up our own hair and finger nails.
wrote...
#4
11 years ago
No way Smiling Face with Open Mouth The shell of a turtle is essentially its backbone. If you look inside a hollow turtle shell, you will see the tops of the ribs and collar bone. A turtle shell grows with it its entire life, and the weight is the reason many tortoises move so slowly. If you look inside the shell when a turtle's head is withdrawn, you will see that the skin is fused to the shell. I think turtles and tortoises are the only animal creatures with a backbone essentially on the outside of their bodies.
When you like a flower, you just pluck it out.
But when you love a flower, you water it daily.
The one who understands this, understands life.

- That's the difference between I like you and I love you.
wrote...
#5
Valued Member
On Hiatus
11 years ago
Quote
Turtles, in fact no turtle in history, has ever been able to get out of its shell.
Haven't you ever played mario? lol
colleen Author
wrote...
#6
Valued Member
11 years ago
Mario has contributed to my misconceptions! Now I have to stop plating it lol
Sunshine ☀ ☼
wrote...
#7
11 years ago
No. turtles cannot live without their shells. This is mainly because their shell is connected directly to their spine. if their shell were to be removed, you would break their back in the process. now that doesn't mean that they can't live without a large section of their shells missing. it's quite common in the wild actually
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