41 turtle shell diagram
On each of 2 large serving trays, arrange 12 cupcakes as shown in diagram. Frost shell of one turtle with chocolate frosting. Frost head and feet with green frosting. (Push cupcakes together slightly to frost entire turtle, not just individual cupcakes.) Pipe green frosting on chocolate shell to create turtle design. Add 2... Tortoises and turtles are the only reptiles with tough, bony shells. The shell is like a suit of armor that protects the body. It has an outer layer of horny shields, called scutes, and an inner layer of bony plates. The domed top of the shell is called the carapace, while the flat layer underneath the animal's belly is called the plastron. The anatomy of the sea turtle is unique in that it is one of the few creatures to have both an internal and external skeleton. In all species except the leatherback, the external skeleton, whose main purpose is to provide protection and support for internal organs, is comprised of a bony shell which is, itself, di...