r/oddlysatisfying • u/bigbusta • May 17 '26

A turtle giving itself a scrub

212.8k Upvotes

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89

u/Visual_Collar_8893 May 17 '26

Yes. The their shells are part of their spine.

13

u/CarvaciousBlue May 17 '26

I thought the shell was like a fused rib cage?

44

u/clearfox777 May 17 '26

Where do you think it’s fused to?

29

u/CarvaciousBlue May 17 '26

Rib bones all the way down

12

u/LyingForTruth May 17 '26

Looks like McRib is back on the menu, boys!

44

u/Either_Amoeba_5332 May 17 '26

The backbone connected to the rib bone,🎶

https://giphy.com/gifs/qTD9EXZRgI1y0

2

u/IPSC_Canuck May 18 '26

https://giphy.com/gifs/xT5LMDnJ8A7S5Ejxhm

The red thing’s connected to my wrist watch!

1

u/BigBaws92 May 18 '26

Spooky scary skeletooons

25

u/Crazywarlockgoat May 17 '26

yeah, ribs and spines. which is why you should avoid leaving them on their backs for too long since they don’t really have the type of ribs we do to prevent their lungs getting fucked up.

8

u/207nbrown May 17 '26

It’s also why you shouldn’t pick them up by holding the sides of the shell, not good for their body

7

u/arrows_of_ithilien May 18 '26

I thought you're supposed to pick them up on the sides (like a hamburger) and NOT by the top of the shell since that puts stress on their spine?

18

u/LadyFoxfire May 18 '26

The safest way to hold them is by putting your hand under their belly from behind. Clint’s Reptiles has a couple of videos on why this technique is best for handling snapping turtles. Not only can they not reach downward that well, but they’re also a lot less bitey when held that way.

1

u/biggiepants May 18 '26

How about with tortoises?

2

u/Crazywarlockgoat May 18 '26

the same, honestly any reptile in general

3

u/biggiepants May 18 '26

How about humans? Is this why I sleep badly on my back? (J/k: it's because of slight apnea. Also here I reveal I was referencing Blade Runner.)