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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 a crocodile. Reptile skin is covered with scutes or scales which, along with many other characteristics, distinguish reptiles from animals of other classes. They are made of alpha and beta-keratin and are formed from the epidermis (contrary to fish, in which the scales are formed from the dermis).
Dermal scutes are also found in the feet of birds and tails of some mammals, and are believed to be the primitive form of dermal armour in reptiles. The term is also used to describe the heavy armour of the armadillo and the extinct Glyptodon , and is occasionally used as an alternative to scales in describing snakes or certain fishes, such as ...
It is theorized that these scutes are most likely modified osteoderms that evolved over time to become the protective shell that we see today. [9] The difference between scutes and scales is that scutes actually form in the lower, vascularized dermis, with the epidermal layer creating only the top surface. Scales on the other hand, form in the ...
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]
The articulations with neighboring scutes are located on the ventral side, and the dorsal surface is strongly sculptured while the ventral surface of wings is smooth and contains many small openings. "The scutes have very wide wings and cover practically the whole upper part of the trunk. The tail scutes are narrower, the last of which lack wings.
These terms form the last part of a three-word phrase (hint: the first word is a verb that means "to move/rotate something in a circular motion"). Related: 300 Trivia Questions and Answers to ...
The upper body is covered by a dark grey bony carapace of squarish scutes. In the mid part of the body, this carapace is divided into a series of ten to thirteen mobile rings, giving the animal some degree of flexibility. Although there are some bristly hairs around the margins of the scutes, the tail and underside of the animal are hairless.