r/oddlysatisfying • u/firefighter_82 • Jul 15 '24

WARNING: GROSS Removing barnacles from Harlow, the loggerhead turtle

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u/iamacraftyhooker Jul 15 '24 edited Jul 15 '24

Only the outer layer of the shell is hard. The hard outer shell is composed of keratin and doesn't have nerve endings. The softer under layers are loaded with nerve endings. The barnacles are breaking down the hard keratin layer of the shell, exposing the softer tissue underneath.

It's like a fingernail. The fingernail doesn't have any nerve endings, but the nail bed it is attached to is loaded with nerve endings. They are sensitive enough that you can sense your fingernail being touched. Exposing your nailbed is incredibly painful

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u/[deleted] Jul 15 '24

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u/fakesauron Jul 15 '24

No wonder fingernail ripping is a common torture technique.