Plastron

The plastron is the nearly flat part of the shell structure of a tortoise, what we would call the belly, similar in composition to the carapace; with an external layer of horny material divided into plates called scutes and an underlying layer of interlocking bones. In certain families there is a hinge between the pectoral and abdominal scutes allowing the turtle to almost completely enclose itself. In certain species the sex of a testudine can be told by whether the plastron is concave, male; or convex, female. This is because of the mating position.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tortoise: Chersina...

Carapace: The term carapace refers to a dorsal section of an exoskeleton or shell, in a number of animal groups....

Pectoral: Pectoral, from the Latin pectoralis (plural pectorales), "pertaining to the breast/chest", can refer to:...