Discover what’s inside a turtle shell, living bone fused to spine and ribs, packed with organs, muscles, and nerves that ...

Turtles (Testudines) have captivated evolutionary biologists for decades due to their distinct morphology and ancient origins. Recent studies have elucidated the evolutionary transformations that led ...

A sea turtle’s shell is living bone fused directly to its spine and ribs. It is not a detachable shield or an external case, ...

It's a long-held idea that turtles can tuck their heads into their shells when threatened. But is it true? And is this protective trick why turtles the world over have shells today? The answer is that ...

Avise, John C., Bowen, Brian W., Lamb, Trip, Meylan, Anne B., and Bermingham, Eldredge. 1992. "Mitochondrial DNA Evolution at a Turtle's Pace - Evidence for Low Genetic Variability and Reduced ...

In vertebrates, the formation of feathers, hair, and scales is typically governed by molecular genetic factors. However, crocodile head scales are an exception, as they form through a purely ...

Sea turtles survived asteroids, volcanoes, and multiple mass extinctions. What they didn’t evolve for was streetlights. Baby turtles are hard-wired to crawl toward the brightest light — once the moon ...