Why do turtles & tortoises have shells?

BrianWI

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2011
Messages
1,001
Location (City and/or State)
Wisconsin
Very interesting, secondary adaptation of a trait.
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,120
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
Here I thought it was so they would never feel homeless
Right! They are so very "attached" to their shells - unlike hermit crabs who change theirs as they grow out of it.
 

Tidgy's Dad

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2015
Messages
48,236
Location (City and/or State)
Fes, Morocco
Still not sure.
We'll need a bit more yet.
Protection from predators from underneath still sounds plausible tp me.
wait until next year.
 

satdiver

Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Jul 12, 2013
Messages
49
I thought it was because predators like them crunchy when they eat them, kinda like chips
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,120
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
It's just their evolution and the reasons may now be lost in time and space.
 

Gillian M

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2014
Messages
15,417
Location (City and/or State)
Jordan
So as to protect themselves. :rolleyes: These cute little animals are so slow, they cannot fly, their shells - I believe - do protect them. ;)
 

Oxalis

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Jan 5, 2013
Messages
3,040
Location (City and/or State)
Michigan
Very cool. I enjoyed reading about the evolution of turtles! :D
 

Oxalis

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Jan 5, 2013
Messages
3,040
Location (City and/or State)
Michigan
Can you guys imagine turtles walking around with no shells in 2050 XD
Get a sneak preview of them in one of the worst movies ever: Laserblast. Only saw it because it was on an episode of MST3K. XD

How can these not be torts without shells?!

220px-Laserblast_stop_motion_aliens.jpg


 
Top