North American Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta belli). Note lifting laminae on scutes. Shed on a regular basis enabling growth.

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Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta belli). Sun bathing. Note lifting layer of keratin laminae from right hand side lateral scutes on carapace or shell. Annual shedding permits growth in this group of turtles, rather than an accumulative build up countable growth rings as seen, for example, in most land living tortoises.

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Size: 3744px × 5616px
Photo credit: © Joe Blossom / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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