Cartoons have been shaping our perceptions of how a turtle looks with or without its shell for years. The cartoons of our childhood are long gone. This is the right time to find real answers. You thought turtles had a hollow under their shells? Let’s find out!
What does a turtle look like without a shell?
The turtle’s shell is covered with an array of internal organs that allow its head and limbs only to retract and contract. The raised carapace creates a false hollow illusion.
One sight is worth a thousand words. Here’s a picture showing what a turtle looks like without a shell.
Another picture of the modern-day turtle’s ancestor.
A Turtle Cannot Survive Without Its Shell
Contrary to what the cartoons portray, a turtle’s shell and body are not two distinct things. Their shell is an integral part of their body’s structure. The shell of a turtle is not able to be removed. A turtle will not molt, or shed its shell (at least not in normal circumstances).
The shell of a turtle is its skin and ribcage. It contains vital organs. It has blood vessels and nerve endings, so that a turtle can feel the slightest touch. It is a living and growing organ.
What happens to the shell when it is removed? It’s true. The turtle does indeed die.
Are There Any Turtles Without Shells?
Today, there are no turtles with shells. But there were 228 million years ago. These were the first chelonians, the modern-day turtles’ ancestors.
I found an amazing find through my internet research using scientific journals. Chinese scientists discovered a six-foot-long frisbee-shaped fossil of an ancient turtle. It was shell-less and measured six feet long. This discovery has opened up new possibilities for chelonian scientists.
One of the many theories that was based on the discovery was about how turtles get their shells.
How Turtles Got Their Shells
The evolution’s wonder that shielded turtles from predators was supposedly their shells. Chinese scientists have made new discoveries about the fossil that contradict this belief.
It was discovered that ancient turtles lived underground. They were subterranean and dug soil to eat. Because there was no oxygen below the surface, turtles needed larger lungs. Large rib cages gave the turtles extra stability and allowed them to dig more easily.
The lower rib cage was created in a natural way. However, the lower area was too small to support its vital organs. This led to the creation of the carapace, or the upper shell. The lower shell was the first to develop.
What’s Underneath The Turtle’s Shell?
The turtle’s shell is home to most vital organs, except for the brain. All of the vital organs are found beneath a turtle’s shell, including the trachea and esophagus as well as the liver, bladder, rectum and pancreas.
Let me explain what each one does.
Esophagus
This is what carries food and liquid from the turtle’s mouth to its stomach through the pharynx.
Trachea
It is located near the heart and assists in the delivery of air to the lungs.
Lungs
The lungs are responsible for oxygen inhalation and buoyancy regulation.
Heart
It removes the oxygenated blood from the body, and pumps it to its lungs to make it oxygenated. The blood returns to the heart and is sent to the rest.
Turtles have three-chambered hearts. Humans have four.
Stomach
The stomach is responsible for breaking down food. It is located between the esophagus (the stomach) and the intestines.
Intestine
Similar to ours, turtles have two types of intestines. The large intestine works to recover water and the smaller intestine absorbs nutrients from food.
Pancreas
Similar to mammals it produces digestive enzymes for turtles. It also secretes “Trypsin”, which aids in the breakdown protein.
Liver
The liver produces bile, stores glucose, and vitamins. It also produces uric acid, promotes blood clotting, and processes toxic substances for the kidneys to filter. It is located in the middle of the coelomic cavity and expands over the plastron and carapace.
Bladder
The turtle’s bladder stores potassium and nitrogenous waste. It acts as a reservoir for water and hydrates. It contracts and flattens to let out urine through the turtle’s Cloaca.
Rectum and Anus
The last parts of a turtle’s digestive system are the rectum or anus. These organs allow for the elimination of wastes.
Anatomy Of A Turtle Shell
The carapace is the upper part of a turtle shell, while the plastron is its bottom. The carapace is the upper shell, while the plastron is its bottom.
Carapace
The carapace is the upper shell. It gives the turtle shell its dome shape. It houses several ribs and other parts of the backbone.
Plastron
It is the bottom of the turtle’s shell. Females have a curvier plastron, while males tend to have a curvier one. Because they must climb up and adjust their bodies while balancing on top of the female’s carapace during mating, this is why they are curvier. It protects vital organs such as the heart, lungs and other internal ones.
Cuts
There are scales made of keratin that cover the carapace’s surface. This is the same substance that makes hairs, nails and horns. They protect the bones, epithelium and shells underneath and absorb heat while basking.
What Happens When A Turtle Loses Its Shell?
Without a shell, a turtle cannot survive. A turtle’s shell is an essential part of its body. Without a shell, all other vital organs such as the heart, lungs and pancreas will be exposed. Without a shell, blood vessels could burst and turtle death would be inevitable.
Final Words On What Does A Turtle Look Without A Shell
It is not an exaggeration to say that a turtle with no shell will look dead. The turtle’s shell is the same as its body. It is permanent. It will end up without a shell and all its organs, which means it will die.
The turtle’s shell is its rib cage. No animal can live without them. Their shell houses the most important organs in their bodies. It is impossible to imagine how a turtle would look without a shell.