Living Shells

The shell of a turtle or tortoise is made up of about 50 bones that are all connected together. This tissue is very much alive, not like dead tissue found in hair or finger nails. Tortoises also have the ability to store sperm, sometimes producing fertile eggs three years after their last mating.

Bonus Fact: The Galapagos tortoise is the largest living tortoise, weighing approximately 570 pounds.