Why does a turtle have a shell?
For grown-ups: the science
A turtle's shell is a strong, bony shield that keeps its body safe.
A turtle's shell isn't just an outer covering - it's part of its skeleton, made of a top shell (carapace) and a bottom shell (plastron). The backbone and ribs are part of the carapace, and since the ribs spread out inside the shell, a turtle can never crawl out of it. In many species the shell's surface is covered with hard, horny plates, and the whole shell grows bigger as the turtle grows.
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Transcript
That turtle's shell looks so hard and sturdy - why is it made that way?
The turtle's shell looks like hard plates lined up in a row. It's a strong shield that keeps its body safe.
Inside, the turtle's backbone and ribs connect right to the shell. That's why the shell is attached so firmly to its body.
As a turtle grows bigger, its shell grows bigger too, bit by bit. Different kinds of turtles even have different patterns on their shells.
A turtle's shell is a strong shield connected to its bones, keeping its body safe.