A study shows that turtles use both genetic signals and mechanical forces to form the scales on their heads, revealing a ...

A turtle’s head seems simple: a hard beak, two bright eyes, and a quilt of scales that protect the skull. Look closer and a ...

In contrast, the top of the head shows ... The ability to generate head scale patterns through mechanical forces is an ancient trait—predating the emergence of modern turtles, crocodiles ...

Their findings showed that the diverse and irregular patterns of scales on a turtle’s head were the result of mechanical skin folding. “This mechanical folding explains the asymmetrical shapes of the ...

At first glance, the turtles appear to be mirror images of each other, right down to their relaxed expressions, round shells and tally-mark patterns ... the turtle on the top has a tiny nostril ...

Georgia beachgoers and tourists can play a part in the state's decades-long sea turtle conservation efforts. See how here.

“This reveals a new facet of reptile evolutionary history: the ability to generate head scale patterns through mechanical forces is an ancient trait —predating the emergence of modern turtles, ...