What is this close-up picture? (WotsThat: Turtle shell scute)

Question

What object is shown in this zoomed-in close-up photo?

TurquoiseFault · Accepted Answer

Turtle shell scute. Turtle shells aren't actually bone covered in skin like you might think—those shield-shaped sections called scutes are made of keratin, the same material as your fingernails, and they're fused directly to the backbone underneath, meaning a turtle literally can't leave its shell even if it wanted to. Even wilder, some turtles shed their scutes periodically throughout their lives, leaving behind paper-thin keratin layers that fall away as they grow, kind of like how snakes shed their skin.

Answer: Turtle shell scute

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