Turtles are fascinating creatures, they are the only animal in the world that has a shell, they can live in lakes, rivers, in the ocean, and even in the desert. And all of those places can be quite dangerous for a small animal like a turtle. So how do they protect themselves from all those harsh conditions and predators? Do they have scales or something similar that protects them? To find out the answer, I decided to do some research, here is what I found out about turtle scales.
Most turtles have parts of their bodies covered with scales. Turtles also have a unique type of scale called a scute that covers their entire shell.
So, while hard to spot at first sight, turtles actually have two different types of scales, which is something quite unique. Now let’s take a look at the different types of scales turtles have, what is their role, and what they are made out of.
The Scales on the Body of a Turtle
The body of a turtle is mostly covered by the shell, the only parts left exposed are the neck, head, tail, and legs. And out of those exposed parts, the head is the only one that is not covered with scales, as you can see in this picture.
This is the case for all turtles and tortoises, the exception is sea turtles who also have scales on their heads, as you can see in this picture.
The scales of turtles, sea turtles, and tortoises are relatively similar, the only major differences are the shapes and colors. In general, turtles tend to have smaller scales than sea turtles and tortoises. But even among tortoise species, the size of the scutes can differ.
All turtles, tortoises, and sea turtles are born with their scales. And as they get older, the scales become more pronounced, get bigger and tougher. Here is a photo where you can see the scales of a tortoise just getting out of its egg.
Now let’s move on to the next types of scales that make turtles unique, the ones on their shells.
The Scales on the Shell of a Turtle
The scales on the shell of a turtle are called scutes. And they are basically scales that grow on the shell to offer it extra protection.
While the scutes of turtles and tortoises are mostly the same they are very different in one regard. Turtles can shed their scutes, while tortoises don’t. This is mostly due to the different environments that they live in. Turtles spend most of their lives in water, while tortoises prefer drier areas. Here is a picture of a turtle that is shedding its scutes:
Aside from this difference, there is the color and shape that can vary from species to species. But other than that they are pretty similar.
Before moving to the role of the scutes I want to address one quick thing. During this article, I kept mentioning the differences between turtles and tortoises, and I usually split into two categories due to this. So if you don’t know the differences between turtles and tortoises any you want to find out, I would recommend you to read my article: What is the Difference Between Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins? ( with Pictures ). Now let’s continue with the role of scales.
The Role of the Scales
The general role of scales is quite simple, it’s protecting the turtle. But the ways in which it protects the turtles is quite interesting.
Sea turtles, for example, are some of the biggest jellyfish eaters in the world. And I’m not talking about the small kind of jellyfish that you can sometimes see at the beach. No, I’m talking about the huge jellyfish that can paralyze a person with their sting. Due to the scales that also grow on their heads, sea turtles are completely immune to those stings. So due to the scales, sea turtles are able to eat some of the most dangerous creatures in the ocean.
Another example, I mentioned that turtles will occasionally shed their scutes. One of the reasons they do this is because the water in which they live can contain a lot of bacterias, and their scutes will protect them from those harmful bacterias. But as time goes on the scutes become worn out, so after some, they will fall and grow back again to ensure that the turtle is completely safe from any bacteria.
So, while scales’ main purpose is to make the skin and shell of the turtle much tougher and resistant to attacks, the scales have evolved to do much more than that. Now let’s take a look at what scales are made out of.
What Are Scales Made out Of?
The answer to this question is very straightforward, keratin. Keratin is the same thing that nails are made out of.
Of course, those scales are not exactly like our nails, our nails are not 100% keratin, neither are their scales. There are other substances in very small quantities in there, that can make the scales a little more different.
One other thing to take into consideration is that just like people, every turtle is different. Not all people have the same nails, some have them more resistant than others. Just like the diet, and genetic predisposition and treatments can influence how tough the nails of a person are, so can the same factor influence the scales of a turtle.
So scales are mostly made out of keratin and depending on a lot of internal and external factors, there can be small traces of other substances.
Related Questions
What are turtle shells made out of? The simple answer is that turtle shells are made out of bones that have fused together. If you want to know how turtles got their shells, what are the different parts of a shell, and what different types of shells turtles can have you should check out this article: What Are Turtle Shells Made Of ? (with Pictures and Video)
Can turtles recognize their owners? Turtles can recognize you and they will understand that you play an important part in their lives, but they will not feel any familiarity towards you like dogs or cats would. Overall turtles recognize their owners but not in a way you would expect. You can always read more about this in my article: Can Turtles Recognize Their Owners?
Do turtles like music? Yes, turtles actually love listening to music, but what kind of music you play for them can make a real difference. If you want to know what kind of music turtles like you should check out this article: Do Turtles like Music?
Final Thoughts
So turtles do have scales on their bodies as well as on their shells. The role of the scutes is to protect the turtle from all kinds of dangers, from predators that want to eat the turtle, to bacterias that can make turtles sick, to jellyfish that try to defend themselves.
I hope this article answered all of your questions, if still have some unanswered questions feel free to leave them in the comment section below. I will do my best to answer them as soon as possible.
Hello,
If you enjoy the content that we create, please consider saying a "Thank You!" by leaving a tip.
Every little bit can help us tremendously in continuing to create quality content that helps turtle and tortoise owners around the world.
We really appreciate the kindness and support that you show us!