A Question About Pyramids

[MPRC]

Thoughts from my shower this morning:

Is the BONE under the keratinized pyramids pyramided also, or are the pyramids on top of a smooth bone shell?

Inquiring minds would like to know. Here's a gratuitous tortoise photo to please those who may reply.

 

[Tom]

The bone is the same shape as the scutes on the outside. This bone is also porous and "spongy" looking vs. dense solid bone on a normal shell.

 

[wellington]

You don't have some of your torts scutes painted do you? I see blue in the middle towards the back and green on either side. I sure hope they aren't painted.

 

[MPRC]

Thanks Tom, I hadn't really given it much thought.

@wellington - It's painters tape. We use it to spot him in the yard when he's bedded down for the night. It's not on the margins and is replaced frequently.

 

[MPRC]

This is super overkill compared to the little spots we use for ourselves...we had to run out of town unexpectedly and our pet sitter hadn't had to search them out in their new enclosure yet so we lit them up like a neon christmas tree. I guess it's one of the downsides to having a huge space with a ton of hiding spots.

 

[wellington]

LOL. Now that is really thinking outside the box. Love it!