When you see a turtle, the first thing you are likely to notice is its shell. Turtle shells may vary in color, size, and shape, but one thing is common in all of them is that the shell is a critical part of the creature’s existence and survival. Not only is it just its home, but also protect their delicate body from harsh environmental elements as well as predators.

So, can turtles live without their shells?

The answer is No! Although they can survive a few seconds or minutes without a shell, they will eventually die. Why? Because a turtle shell includes nerve endings and bones that its body needs for it to function. To be precise, its shell has important parts of turtle’s anatomy including spinal cord, nerve endings, and rib cage.

Turtle shells are either doomed or flat, depending on their habitat and species. Generally, land turtles have a high-dome-shaped cover for protection against predators. On the other hand, sea turtles have flat, streamlined surfaces for more effortless gliding through water.

These reptiles require 40 to 50 years for them to fully mature, with their lifespans reaching up to 70 years.

Most turtles are active during the day as they spend this time searching for food. They are omnivores and mainly eat meat as well as vegetables. For vegetables, they primarily feed on grass and algae. For meat, they wiggle their worm-looking tongue to attract hungry fish.

The proportion of either meat or vegetable eaten by a turtle depends on its age. Turtles below three years eat more meat since their bodies need more protein and calcium for their high growth and shell development needs. As they mature, they consume less meat and more vegetables.

Are Turtles and Tortoises the Same?

People often use the words turtles, tortoises, and terrapins interchangeably. However, the three are different, with the critical difference being the habitat. Other differences are the shape of their feet and that of the shell.

Turtle is often used to refer to the entire order of reptiles with a shell encasement. Thus, all tortoises and terrapins are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises. Another common expression of turtles refers to those that mainly live in water.

Turtles living in water have sensory adaptations for aquatic life. They have a streamlined body, webbed feet. Marine turtles hardly leave the sea other than to lay eggs. Their shells are flat-like, making it easier for them to glide through the water.

On the other hand, terrapins are semi-aquatic; they live on land and water, especially in pods, swamps, lakes, and rivers. They have adaptations to survive in both environments.

Tortoises live on land, and they are bigger and heavier. They have club-like front limbs. Their hind limbs are enormous to help the animal move around quickly and support the extra weight. Their shell is higher and doom-shaped.

Now that we have explored the main difference between tortoises, terrapins, and turtles, it is essential to notice that, in most cases, the word turtle is used to refer to either of the three. We will do the same here.

Are Turtles Born With Shells?

Turtles, whether aquatic, semi-aquatic, or land, are born with a shell. During the initial life stages, after hatchling, the surfaces are usually very soft.

Although soft, the surface still provides the hatchling with the required protection from predators. The shell hardens as they get older. It also gets bigger and grows proportionally with its entire skeletal system. However, unlike other animals, turtles cannot molt and grow new shells as they mature.

The shell of a land turtle is thick, round, and is covered with special plates known as scutes. As the turtle gets older, the scutes grow older, overlap each other, and at times end up shedding off.

It is worth noting that only the scutes shed off, not the shell. On the other hand, ocean turtles have softer leather-like shells that don’t shed off.

How Do Turtles Form Their Shells and When Did Turtles First Develop Their Shell?

Turtle shell, much like our bones, is majorly made of calcium phosphate. When forming as an embryo, the shell is formed through fusion of back bones and rib bones.

The upper part of the shell is known as carapace while the lower part is known as the plastron. Both the carapace and plastron are joined together with the bridge. Because of the shell being formed through bone fusion, they become a crucial composition of their body.

When, how, and why turtles evolved to having shells is not clear. Research on this is still ongoing, and some fossil fuels have been found in Eunotosaurus Africanus. These fossils might be the answer to how turtles developed their shells. The future might tell.

Some fossils have been found only to have the plastron. This means that the carapace part of a turtle’s shell might have developed later, perhaps as part of adaptation. The modern-day turtle has both the plastron and the carapace, both of which play vital roles.

Even though it is not yet clear how turtles developed their shells, there is no doubt that a shell is a critical part of a turtle. 

Why Do Turtles Have Shells?

A turtle’s shell is what makes it different from other animals. It is more than just a covering. It serves other critical purposes in this reptile’s day-to-day life. Below we explore some of the most vital benefits of a turtle shell.

1.     Protection

One of the critical purposes of the shell is protection. It is hard and requires a lot of pressure and energy to break it. As a result, the turtle has protection from most predator attacks.

The shell has nerve endings, and a turtle can fell if it is touched. Some turtles, especially land turtles, hide their limbs, head, and tail beneath the shell upon spotting or feeling a predator.

2.     Acts as the Skin

As the outer part of a turtle, the shell acts as its skin. It protects the turtle’s delicate dermal area from fungal and bacterial infections. It also protects the nerve endings. Without this, the animal’s parts are exposed to diseases and damage. 

3.     Helps with Heat Absorption

Another critical benefit of a turtle’s shell is heat absorption. The cover is dark in color. As such, it acts as a good absorber of heat from the sun. It also protects the turtle’s inner parts from being burnt by the sun’s heat.

In addition, the shell protects the animal from dehydration because of direct exposure to the sun.

4.     Aids Absorption of UV Light

Even more? The shell helps the turtle absorb UV light and Vitamin D synthesis. Inadequate Vitamin D, calcium and UVB lights might lead to metabolic bone disease. This disease makes the animal’s bones lose calcium. With insufficient calcium, the shell becomes malformed and soft, making it vulnerable to predators.

5.     pH Buffering

Finally, it lowers the animal’s blood pH levels, making the blood less acidic. It is crucial in the distribution of oxygen and other vital molecules throughout the body.

What Makes a Turtle Shell?

A turtle’s shell (whether land or sea) is made of a carapace and a plastron. Both parts are hard unless the turtle is a hatchling. They are linked to the turtle’s sides to cover a large part of its body.

Carapace and plastron are also vital in providing the animal’s organs with protection. There is no boundary between the animal’s shell and its internal body organs.

The carapace is the shell part that covers the animal’s back. The ribs and spine are attached to this part. On the other hand, the plastron is the shell’s bottom side, and its edges connect with the carapace. It protects the turtle’s vital organs, such as the heart and lungs. The plastron has six ports that allow the animal to protrude its head, tail, and four legs.

In some turtle species, the carapace and plastron are brought together to completely cover the reptile’s exposed parts, i.e., tails, head, and limbs. While other species cannot retract into the shell, the hard surface still gives them the necessary protection. 

A turtle’s shell has visible partitions known as scutes. Like hair and fingernails, scutes are made of keratin. They act as a cover to the turtle’s epithelium overlying its bonny shell. As the turtle grows and matures, it produces bigger and newer scutes beneath the older ones.

In some turtle species, the outer, older scutes shed off naturally once or twice a year. However, the bony underneath shell should never be left open because of the scutes shedding. Exposure of the body part as a result of scutes shedding might mean that the cover is infected. This exposure causes extreme pain to the turtle. 

Pyramiding of the shell refers to the abnormal shaping of scutes forming a pyramid shape. It is often caused by lack of sufficient light, severe malnutrition, or, in rare cases, trauma.

Just like the fur and skin in other animals, a turtle’s shell is prone to problems. One common problem is shell rot which refers to infection of a turtle’s shell. Bacterial and fungal infections cause it. The conditions may result from the shell chipping, breaking or cracking, or uneven growth of scutes. Common indicators of shell rot include visible splits or cracks, irregular shedding of scutes, pungent odor, blood discharge on the shell, soft spots, and pits on the shell. 

Can a Turtle Get Outside Its Shell?

The shell is a part of a turtle’s exoskeleton. Thus, unlike humans, a part of a turtle’s skeletal system is outside and not inside. The shell integrates with a turtle’s spine and ribs. If broken or removed, a turtle would feel severe pain because of the nerve ending found throughout the shell. This is why land turtles hide below the cover when the shell is touched.

Since the shell fuses to its skeletal system, a turtle can’t get outside its shell. There is also no safe way of removing it from the cover. This would be similar to removing a human’s skin. Even though they can’t get outside the shell, turtles can hide their tail, limbs, and head inside the shell. 

Can a Turtle’s Shell Break? 

A turtle’s shell is hard to break, especially when the turtle is mature. For better understanding, the shell is more rigid than aluminum. It requires a lot of pressure and power to break it. Even so, it is still possible for a turtle shell to crack. 

The shell can break or crack because of an attack from predators or due to past trauma. For pet turtles, the cover can crack if one steps on it, drops it, or if the turtle drops from its tank. Shell injuries can be classified into depression fractures and missing shell fragments.

Depression fracture occurs when the midline of the top part, carapace, breaks. It exposes the spinal column to damage. On the other hand, missing shell fragments refer to an array of shell damages ranging from minimal to fatal. 

Sea turtles are likely to have their shell broken by sharks and whales. The sharks are the main predator for aquatic turtles, while the whales often prefer attacking leatherback turtles. Sea turtles have softer shells compared to land turtles because of their adaptation to marine life.

For land turtles, the biggest enemies are crocodiles and alligators. They can break the turtle’s shell. However, they often don’t, and this is why turtles are often seen being around these animals without running away. Alligators and crocodiles often don’t attack turtles because they don’t like the taste of the bony shells. The shells also have low nutritional value. 

Honey badgers are the real predator when it comes to land turtles. They have the strength to break the turtle’s shell because of their sharp, strong teeth. Unlike the other land turtle predators, honey badgers enjoy the taste of a turtle’s shell. 

Birds are also a real threat to a turtle’s shell. This might be a little surprising given how rigid a turtle’s body is. But birds lack the strength required to crack the surface. To break the shell, birds often pick up the turtle, carry it high in the sky and drop it. This often cracks the shell due to the impact on the earth’s surface. 

Because turtles do not nurture their offspring, they leave the laid eggs on land or sand without protection. As a result, these eggs are often eaten by scavengers before they hatch. Only a tiny percentage of the eggs laid by turtles survive to become hatchlings. Some organizations have formed structures to collect turtle eggs from the beach and hatch them before releasing them into the ocean to curb the reducing turtles’ population.

Other turtle predators include raccoons, crabs, bears, feral dogs, otters, minks, foxes, wolverines, and wolves. Although most of these predators have strong jaws, their strength is often below a turtle’s shell.

 Can a Turtle Live With a Broken Shell?

When the shell cracks, the life of a turtle is in danger. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the turtle will die. A turtle can survive with a broken shell. Like human skin, cracked or damaged skin exposes the turtle’s body to the exterior environment. The turtle is now prone to attack by predators, fungal and bacterial infections.

The good thing is that a turtle can survive with a broken shell, thanks to the magic of Mother Nature. Since there is no guarantee of healing, it is good to protect turtles’ shells from damage by keeping the pet ones in a safe environment and not harming the wild ones. 

Does a Broken Shell Heal?

Yes. A broken shell can repair by itself. It is made of living, organic and natural substances that can heal naturally. Even though the shell can heal, it is good to find other ways to care for cracked shells if you have pet turtles. This is because even the slightest dent on the shell can lead to fatal fungal or bacterial infection.

Exotic veterinarians use strong antibiotics to treat broken shells. If you have a pet turtle whose shell looks off, it is good to consult an expert for examination and treatment to start as early as possible. The vet may also recommend a radiograph to examine the degree of damage.

For minor fractures, a vet may use adhesive tape to repair the fractures. In case taping is not an ideal method, they may use a surgical procedure known as bridging to fix plate-like implants on the fractured parts of the shell. 

Regular monitoring will help determine if the medication or mode of treatment is effective. Strong antibiotics can treat other turtle problems, including septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease (SCUD) and shell rot.

Avoid shell treatment methods that use materials containing toxic materials that may harm the turtle in the long run. These materials include cement, acrylic, resin, and glue.

It is worth noting that, like most reptiles, turtles grow and heal very slowly. Therefore, it might take several years for a broken shell to completely heal. 

What Does a Turtle Look Like Without a Shell?

Knowing that a turtle’s shell comprises several bones and a skeleton, then you would know that a turtle would not be alive without a shell. It would look like an animal’s body undergoing dissection.

The absence of the turtle’s shell would expose the internal organs and structure to the open. This would make the turtle vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections and attacks by predators. The organs will probably fall out of place if the turtle flips.

Can Turtles Survive Without Their Shell?

A turtle with no shell is like a human being without skin. The shell shields the turtle from its predators and harsh environment. Most predators are unable to break their hard shells. The shell acts as its defense mechanism. But even in an environment without predators, a turtle would still not survive without its shell because of the other vital roles the shell plays.

If a turtle does not have its shell, then this means that its rib cage, spine, and other bones are missing. It is impossible for an animal to survive without a ribcage. The absence of a shell also means that the turtle’s delicate dermal plates and nerve endings would be at risk of bacterial infections and trauma.

A turtle cannot survive without a shell. The shell helps the turtle absorb UV light, absorb heat and protects it from excess heat, acts as its skin covering up its vital and delicate organs, serves as a part of its skeletal system, and also provides it with a defense mechanism against predators. For this reason, it is impossible for a turtle to survive without this vital body part.

Fun Facts about Turtles

Here are exciting things to know about this shell-bearing reptile.

• The inner part of a turtle’s shell is made of 50-60 bones, including its ribs, backbone, and breastbone.
• The shell has nerve endings.
• There are over 300 species of turtles around the world.
• Most turtle shells are covered with scutes that are made from overlapping keratine.
• A turtle does not change its shell. The shell grows with the turtle.
• Turtles do not nurture their offspring.

While most turtles can hide their vulnerable parts in the shell, sea turtles can’t do this.

Conclusion

There are myths purporting that a turtle can survive without its shell. But these myths are absolutely misguiding. Unlike hermits and crabs, a turtle cannot get outside its shell. Why and how the turtle evolved may not be evident now, but the modern-day turtle needs the cover to survive. 

The shell not only shelters it from attack by predators but also carries essential parts of the animal. Some of the components found in a turtle’s shell include its skeleton, ribcage, nerve endings, and various bones. It also plays other vital roles in UV light absorption, protecting the animal from overheating and Vitamin D synthesis.

A fractured shell is dangerous and can cause death. For turtle pet owners, it is crucial to understand how vital the shell is and practice proper care tips. In case of injuries, one should consult an exotic vet for examination and treatment.

Knowing all these purposes served by a turtle’s shell, it is clear that a turtle would not survive outside and without its shell. Turtles are also at the risk of extinction. As such, it is vital to protect this shell-bearing creature to enhance its survival rates.