Awww!] They claim "* Some land turtles can out run a human. Do you think tortoises can feel it when you scratch their shells? Offer enough food so that the meal is roughly the size of the shell. Turtles and tortoises of different species have shells that vary in size, color, and shape but they all have one thing in common - their shells are hard and protective.Sometimes environmental conditions, nutrition, diseases, or trauma can alter the appearance and effectiveness of these shells and knowing more about them can help you determine whether or not your turtle or tortoise … Many tortoise owners believe their pets can hear them, even respond to their name and learn tricks. Asking a tortoise to live without its shell would be like asking a human to … 99% Upvoted. I tend to believe the thought process that says they can feel in their shells but only similarly to us being able to feel through our fingernails. Sea turtle shells consist of bones, which are covered by a layer of so-called scutes (plates). Their shells are large and domed, and their … Tortoises can be kept as a pet as they like to be touched and can feel touch in their shells but the biggest drawback to a pet tortoise is their long lifespan. Verified. Studying sea turtles. These nerve endings are sensitive to pressure, for example from a touch on the back. Tortoises also evacuate air from their lungs to hide in their shells. A tortoise has a collarbone, ribs, and a spine inside its shell. Evans illustrates that tortoises can feel it when their shells are touched, although they do experience it as a different sensation than if their body is petted. 0 0. These tortoises can grow to be quite large. You can tell the age of a tortoise by the rings around its scutes. 0:00. Sort by. If you cut out the brain of tortoise it still can survive up to 6 months. I'm curious about this too! Without this feature it’s pretty safe to say that they would have died out long ago. Yes, tortoises loved to be touched; so long as it is appropriate and gentle. Within the first few years of hatching, these tortoises can grow to 10 in. Because turtles move really slow, the ability to retract their head offers them protection from more speedy predators. Tortoise Colouring Pages . Sometimes they can get itchy. And that means they recognize both pleasant and painful sensations on their shells. best. The shell of a turtle is like the material that makes up the horns on animals, or even human fingernails. The “hiss” is not an act of aggression or a battle cry, but rather a byproduct of their fear as well as their sense of self-preservation. Tortoises can hide their head, feet, and tail in their shell. Informations sur votre appareil et sur votre connexion Internet, y compris votre adresse IP, Navigation et recherche lors de l’utilisation des sites Web et applications Verizon Media. Also worth noting is that tortoises straight-up l.o.ve. Breathing is a quite heavy and difficult process for them, therefore they breathe very slowly. Yahoo fait partie de Verizon Media. The shell car wash … Explore our Tortoise Resources. [Awww, look how the tortoise raises its neck when Evans pets it! Log in or sign up to leave a comment Log In Sign Up. Keepers at the Philly Zoo made this shell scratcher so the turtles & tortoises can get A+ scratches. [Awww, look how the tortoise raises its neck when Evans pets it! The turtle shell is a highly complicated shield for the ventral and dorsal parts of turtles, tortoises and terrapins (all classified as "turtles" by zoologists), completely enclosing all the vital organs of the turtle and in some cases even the head. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix à tout moment dans vos paramètres de vie privée. having their necks scratched and pet. Tortoises and turtles absolutely cannot live without their shells. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using TortForum mobile app So Tom's keepers at the Philadelphia Zoo created this back-scratching contraption. Despite popular belief, they can feel the slightest touch to their skin and shells. Tortoises are extremely sensitive creatures. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Tortoises can retract their heads and all their limbs into their shells when they feel threatened by predators. Keepers at the Philly Zoo made this shell scratcher so the turtles & tortoises can get A+ scratches. As a vital part of their body, turtles do feel their shell. The shell is not something they can simply slip on and off. Evans illustrates that tortoises can feel it when their shells are touched, although they do experience it as a different sensation than if their body is petted. Russian Tortoise bodies make a hissing sound as they pull their head into their shell very quickly. Fully grown, they weigh in at a hefty 230 lbs.! Your pet tortoise should have a strong tough and reliable shell. We now know that this causes blockage of the pores. Turtles & tortoises can feel their shells (their shells have nerve endings). Yes they can feel it. It is fused to the tortoises’ and turtles’ bones so they cannot live without it. Largely defenseless against predators, tortoises have evolved, and indeed thrived thanks to the presence of their shell. A tortoise's shell has blood vessels and nerves, so the tortoise can feel it being touched. These scutes are made of keratin, the same material that human fingernails are made of. Sometimes a tortoise can develop a soft shell, this is likely to be because they are not getting enough sunlight, so as you can imagine, this is a rare occurrence for a tortoise that lives outdoors. This is because their shell does contain nerve endings. They can be up to 33 in. I was just curious if tortoise can feel it when you pet them on their shell. Sometimes they can get itchy. Tortoises are not the same as most family pets, while they do respond to their owners over time and it is known that they can learn new tricks, how do they hear, and do they really respond to their name? Shells have nerve endings, so tortoises can feel every rub, pet, or scratch ... and sometimes they love it. Their hard shell can help shield them from danger and prevents them from becoming someone’s dinner. hide. Despite popular belief, they can feel the slightest touch to their skin and shells. Also worth noting is that tortoises straight-up l.o.ve. Their breathing skills have inspired many humans to practice the way they breathe to increase their lifespan because tortoises can live for 150 years. Their shell is not an armature! Play. Turtles can actually feel through their shells, so you can also pet it by stroking its shell with your fingers. It is just air! Turtles & tortoises can feel their shells (their shells have nerve endings). The tortoises shell is a living breathing organ with pores and nerve endings just as your skin is, so they can feel anything which touches their shell. Tortoise Club members get a special banner on their posts, unlimited gallery storage space, special offers from our sponsors, upload videos, and more! Some tortoise owners can be alarmed to find that their tortoise’s shell is softening with no apparent cause. It is constructed of modified bony elements such as the ribs, parts of the pelvis and other bones found in most reptiles. When you touch your tortoise’s shell, they can feel this in their body underneath, although the sensation is not as strong as if you touch their legs, neck or head. I was just curious if tortoise can feel it when you pet them on their shell. Tortoises have a very heavy shell on their body. Settings. Découvrez comment nous utilisons vos informations dans notre Politique relative à la vie privée et notre Politique relative aux cookies. It was once thought that a tortoise’s carapace was void of any nerve endings, and as such horrific acts were often carried out and even recommended by media and literature of that time. Many people don't realize that tortoises can feel their shells being touched. Awww!] ", which, seeing as how top speed of tortoises seems to run about 0.4mph. Sometimes they can get itchy. Lower jaw gets stuck - any experience of this please. Fullscreen. When you touch your tortoise’s shell, they can feel this in their body underneath, although the sensation is not as strong as if you touch their legs, neck or head. save. Their shells protect them from predators and also help them feel safe if they were feeling threatened or in danger before retreating into their shell. Many turtles as well as tortoises are indeed able to pull in all four legs and their heads to hide in their shell. Tortoise breath 3-4 times in a minute. Potential Health Issues. I think it's one of those great unknowns about torts. Therefore just touching the shell can initiate an emotional response from your tortoise, and in fact this is a really good place to start, because whilst they can feel it, the sensation isn’t as strong as if you touch their skin so it’s less likely to be overstimulating. It was once thought that a tortoise’s carapace was void of any nerve endings, and as such horrific acts were often carried out and even recommended by media and literature of that time. However, the nerve endings on their shells are not very sensitive, and generally just transmit vibrations. It's About Frequencies. share. Sea turtles can swim at about 20mph, which is faster than a human, but the stated claim seems difficult to swallow. Obviously, that would make it impossible for the shell to just slip off. In the bad old days, tortoise owners would clean and polish their pet's shell with olive oil. Pour autoriser Verizon Media et nos partenaires à traiter vos données personnelles, sélectionnez 'J'accepte' ou 'Gérer les paramètres' pour obtenir plus d’informations et pour gérer vos choix. Despite their ability to live for decades, leopard tortoises can suffer from a range of diseases. Turtles and tortoises of different species have shells that vary in size, color, and shape but they all have one thing in common - their shells are hard and protective.Sometimes environmental conditions, nutrition, diseases, or trauma can alter the appearance and effectiveness of these shells and knowing more about them can help you determine whether or not your turtle or tortoise is healthy. Turtles & tortoises can feel their shells (their shells have nerve endings). The tortoises shell is a living breathing organ with pores and nerve endings just as your skin is, so they can feel anything which touches their shell. Therefore just touching the shell can initiate an emotional response from your tortoise, and in fact this is a really good place to start, because whilst they can feel it, the sensation isn’t as strong as if you touch their skin so it’s less likely to be overstimulating. There are nerve endings enervating even the bones of the shell. Yes, they use it as a refuge … JavaScript is disabled. In short, yes, turtles can feel their shell. Keepers at the Philly Zoo made this shell scratcher so the turtles & tortoises can get A+ scratches. Yes, turtles do have nerve endings in their shell, since the shell is made from their backbone and ribs. You don’t need to be scared of Russian Tortoises when they “hiss” at you because they are already afraid of you. long, and grow quite rapidly from the time that they hatch. Reptile biologists have confirmed that tortoises not only can feel it when their shells are touched, but they respond positively to it. They will feel the movement/vibration from the shell being touched though. The shell of a tortoise is made up of 60 different bones all connected to each other. 0:00. Tortoises are extremely sensitive creatures. Note: This delightful creature is a turtle, not a tortoise. It might be more energetic and receptive when it’s warm, so try petting it after it’s done sunning itself. They also have scales on their body. As you mentioned, a lot of turtles and tortoises on land have the ability to pull, or retract, their head into their body. It may take some time for your turtle to warm up to you and like being pet, so be patient and gentle when handling it. And they have slightly more feeling than that in the growth lines. Learn the answer to this question in our So petting your tortoise is great, but damaging the shell is not cool. JRuss. Tortoises are able to feel anything that touches their shells, even if you touch it very softly.