Does a turtles shell grow as the turtle grows?

Answer 1

The inner layer of the shell made up of bone grows in a way similar in some extent to the human skull. Over the skeletal bones such as spine and modified ribs are dermal bone plates, which grow larger as the turtle ages.

The outer keratin layer grows in a similar manner, with the scute-producing beds becoming wider and new scutes growing underneath old. In many tortoises the old scutes are kept building up layers, while in most turtles the scutes are shed either in whole sheets, or as flakes.

Answer 2

Yes - Turtles are "born" with a shell. In the first days after hatching the shell can be softer, because their bones are not calcified all the way yet. Once fully grown, turtles and tortoises have hard, protective shells that are made up of 59 to 61 bones covered by plates called scutes. The scutes are made of keratin, the primary substance in hair, nails and hooves of other animals, but the turtle's shell is part of its skeleton. And like bones, it grows with them while they age.

The turtle cannot fully crawl out of it, because the shell is permanently attached to the spine and the rib cage.

The shell's top is called the carapace, and the bottom is the plastron. Turtles can feel pressure and pain through their shells, just as you can feel pressure through your fingernails.

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Answer 3

yes turtles do grow with the shell because they are connected to the shell and it grows up to 12 inches

Answer 4

yes only if it's bits and pieces. if it's a large crack and bleeds, then eventually the turtle will die.