Everything about Carapace totally explained
A
carapace is a
dorsal section of an
exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups.
Crustaceans
In
crustaceans, the carapace is a part of the exoskeleton that covers the
cephalothorax. It is particularly well developed in
lobsters and
crabs. It functions as a protective cover over the cephalothorax. Where it projects forward beyond the eyes, this projection is called a
rostrum. The carapace is calcified to varying.
Arachnida
In
arachnids, the carapace is formed by the fusion of prosomal (= of
cephalothorax)
tergites into a single plate which carries the eyes, ocularium,
ozopores (a pair of openings of the scent gland of
Opiliones) and diverse
phaneres. In a few orders, such as
Solifugae and
Schizomida it may be subdivided. In Opiliones some authors prefer to use the term carapace interchangeably with cephalothorax, which is incorrect, because carapace refers only to the dorsal part of it.
Turtles and tortoises
The
carapace is the dorsal, convex part of the shell structure of a
turtle, consisting primarily of the animal's broad
ribcage. The
spine and ribs are fused to bony plates beneath the skin which interlock to form a hard shell. Exterior to the skin the shell is covered by
scutes, horny plates which protect the shell from scrapes and bruises. Turtles can survive surprisingly severe injuries to the carapace, and even deep cracks or missing portions can fill in with bone and heal. The
softshell turtles,
pig-nose turtle and
leatherback sea turtle lack scutes and the bony carapace is covered only by skin. The carapaces of many species of turtles are brightly colored and patterned and allow individuals to identify others of their species at a distance. The carapaces expand and grow outward like growth rings on a tree as the turtle or tortoise matures. The consistency of the carapace resembles hard
keratin rather than bone. The
plastron makes up the lower half of a turtle's shell.
Further Information
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