I fed this female box tortoise some raspberries at the beginning of the summer. Now, she follows me all over the garden, and visits me almost daily looking for handouts.

[u/abhitchc]

[u/sara_bear_8888]

Wait, really? I wonder if it feels similar to when we rub our fingernails or toenails? I love learning little facts like this.

[u/NoDoctor4460 → u/sara_bear_8888]

“Turtles and tortoises aren’t in their shells, they are their shells” - saw this tweeted by a biologist years ago and it really stuck with me. Their ribcages are built into it, lots of nerves etc.

[u/BraveOthello → u/sara_bear_8888]

Likely very similar, the scutes on their shells are also keratinized tissue