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Overlying the boney elements are a series of scutes, which are made of keratin and are a lot like horn or nail tissue. In the center of the carapace are five vertebral scutes and out from these are four pairs of costal scutes. Around the edge of the shell are 12 pairs of marginal scutes.
Scutes on an alligator foot A scute ( / s k j uː t / ⓘ ) or scutum ( Latin : scutum ; plural: scuta " shield ") is a bony external plate or scale overlaid with horn, as on the shell of a turtle , the skin of crocodilians , and the feet of birds .
Typically, a turtle has 38 scutes on the carapace and 16 on the plastron, giving them 54 in total. Carapace scutes are divided into "marginals" around the margin and "vertebrals" over the vertebral column, though the scute that overlays the neck is called the "cervical". "Pleurals" are present between the marginals and vertebrals. [20]
The skin of crocodilians is clad in non-overlapping scales known as scutes that are covered by beta-keratin. [77] Many of the scutes are strengthened by bony plates known as osteoderms. Scutes are most numerous on the back and neck of the animal. The belly and underside of the tail have rows of broad, flat, square-shaped scales. [38]
Typically, 11 or 12 pairs of marginal scutes rim the carapace. [8] Five vertebral scutes run down the carapace's midline, while five pairs of costal scutes border them. [21] The nuchal scute is located at the base of the head. [21] The carapace connects to the plastron by three pairs of inframarginal scutes forming the bridge of the shell. [21]
Snake scales may be modified to form fringes, as in the case of the eyelash bush viper, Atheris ceratophora, or rattles as in the case of the rattlesnakes of North America. [ 8 ] Certain primitive snakes such as boas , pythons and certain advanced snakes such as vipers have small scales arranged irregularly on the head.
The average life span of adult box turtles is 50 years, while a significant portion lives over 100 years. The age of a growing box turtle in the wild cannot be accurately estimated by counting the growth rings on the scutes; Their growth is directly affected by the amount of food, types of food, water, illness, and more. Box turtle eggs are ...
Acaenasuchus paramedian scutes do not include the "tongue in groove" articulation with adjacent plates as seen on Desmatosuchus. [2] Medial and lateral "wing" structures emanate from the ridges of the pre-sacral scutes. [2] Deeply incised pitting is visualized posterior to the pre-sacral scutes. [2] A division of the raised boss is also noted.