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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 .
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]
The turtle needs a large swimming area (a children's pool is prime) with some cinder blocks, rocks and floating logs. Female turtles need dry areas to lay eggs and vegetation to burrow and hide.
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]
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]
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[8] [9] The outer shell is composed of ossified dermal scutes covered by nonoverlapping, keratinized epidermal scales, which are connected by flexible bands of skin. This armor covers the back, sides, head, tail, and outside surfaces of the legs.