Can tortoises feel through their shell?

Can tortoises feel through their shell? #

Can tortoises feel when you touch their shell? Do they know when they bump into things? Can they feel anything? All questions we are asked regularly on our reptile section. Let me explain……
Walking tanks
Tortoises are often described as “walking tanks”, wearing armor or even living in their shells. These statements (while partly correct) can be a bit misleading. The tortoises shell is composed of two main parts: a bony layer and an outer layer of keratinous scutes. The bony layer is fused with the tortoise’s ribs and spine (This is the inner layer of the shell, made up of about 50 bones that are fused together to create the basic shape of the shell), forming a rigid structure that protects the vital organs. The scutes are made of keratin, the same material as fingernails and hair, and provide an extra layer of protection and are uniquely patterned on each individual animal.
The top part of the shell is called the carapace, and the bottom part is called the plastron. They are joined together along the sides of the tortoise’s body, creating a rigid structure. When a tortoise feels threatened, it withdraws its head, legs, and tail into its shell, tucking them securely inside. The shell’s hardness and the ability to retract offer significant protection against predators like birds of prey, mammals, and even some reptiles. The shell also protects against injury from falls and (mostly self-inflicted) impacts. While the shell is hard, tortoises can still feel pressure and vibrations through their shells, allowing them to sense potential dangers and react accordingly. The outer layer of the shell, the scutes, have blood vessels and nerve endings, meaning the shell can bleed and injuries to the scutes can be painful, both of these factors show that tortoises can feel through their shells.
Now that we have established that tortoises have nerve endings, blood supply and can feel through their shells, we must ask – do they like it?
Scratches?
The short answer is yes; tortoises do like being patted and scratched on their shells (please see our video link of Scratch, our Leopard tortoise). But this is not true of every tortoise you should meet.
The longer answer to the tortoise patting question… Much like dogs, cats and even people, there are varying degrees of contact they enjoy. Some dogs and cats (and yes, some people too, have you seen social media lately??) crave attention from strangers and familiar contacts alike. Some people are huggers. And some people are not and will actively avoid human contact. Some tortoises will enjoy being patted and scratched, some will use brushes and other things to scratch their shells, and some will actively walk towards people to be touched and petted.
So, tortoises can feel what is going on through their shell, they can feel the scratches, pats and gentle touches, but they can also feel the kicks, the slaps and the things dropped on them. Before you ask if a tortoise is an appropriate pet for a child, please remember this fact.
For more information regarding tortoises, available, setups, food and husbandry advice please contact

Shirley Aquatics Reptiles at sh**************@*****co.uk, our website www.shirleyaquatics.co.uk phone 0121 744 1300 or visit us in store.

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