Turtles love shell scritches

This dude shows a tortoise it can go way faster with a ride and it even learns how to turn like a pro.

It's so cool to see this, because it's a perfect reminder of something a lot of people don't realize. A turtle's shell isn't a separate piece of armor they carry around; it's actually their spine and rib cage fused together. It's covered in nerve endings. So when you're scratching their shell, you're literally giving their back a good scratch in a place they could never hope to reach themselves. No wonder they love it!

wtf ?? I thought they don't feel anything on their shell

The turtle's biggest fun is playing with the house cat. 😂

Did this Turtle high five an Alligator? 😂

What's the secret ? 🐢

Turtle makes QUICK ESCAPE from alligator. 🐢🐊

Mama Turtle Giving Baby a Piggy Back Ride 🥺♥️

Turtle got stuck on its way to the sea and this bro here help it out. Moments like this restore my faith in humanity!

Whoever thought to put a turtle on a mini skateboard is a straight up genius!

Big turtle🐢 said: “Move” 🤣🤣

Turtle Times says that turtles can feel their shells due to nerve endings, and scratching can help remove debris or parasites, suggesting a practical benefit beyond mere enjoyment. That's cool!

That’s cute! Never knew that they would enjoy something like this - I learned something today!

that settles it: I'm quitting everything and pursuing Plan B - a mobile turtle scratching service.

Turtle collects food from Goat for ride. 🐢🚗🐐😂

Turtles out here living their best life while humans stress over bills and emails 💀

Red-eared slider turtle had a gemstone stuck in his shell!

Tortoise shells have nerve endings and are sensitive to the slightest touch. This tortoise at Badger Run Wildlife Rehab loves to feel her shell scratched, so a kind volunteer made her a scratching device.

Big turtle🐢 said: “Move” 🤣🤣

No, they don't. They want to be left alone.

I had no idea, turtles eat snakes

I would not try that with a snapping turtle.

Fun fact: turtles can feel through their shells 🐢

FYI Yes, turtles can feel being scratched on their shells. Research indicates that turtle shells contain nerve endings, allowing them to perceive tactile stimuli. A study published in the "Journal of Experimental Biology" by Eisenberg et al. (1985) demonstrated that turtles exhibit behavioral responses to touch on their shells, suggesting sensory perception. The study found that turtles reacted to gentle pressure and scratching on their carapaces, indicating the presence of sensory nerves. Another study by Lenhardt et al. (1983) in the "Journal of Auditory Research" explored the sensory capabilities of turtle shells, finding that they can perceive vibrations, which further supports the idea that shells are not just protective but also sensory organs. These findings are consistent across various turtle species, confirming that the shell is an extension of the turtle's sensory system. **Validated Links:** 1. Eisenberg, J. F., et al. (1985). "Sensory Perception in Turtles." *Journal of Experimental Biology*. [Link]( 2. Lenhardt, M. L., et al. (1983). "Turtle Shells as an Auditory Receptor." *Journal of Auditory Research*. [Link]( These peer-reviewed studies provide robust evidence that turtles can indeed feel being scratched on their shells due to the presence of nerve endings and sensory capabilities.

Raising a crocodile is scary

Bruh this like a dike moaning when she gets her plastic rubbed 🤣

Box Turtle #Nature

That means everyone loves backside rubs 😂🙌🏻

the big one is a tortoise

Maybe I'll try that next time one of those walks by our house again!

I mean who knew. My dogs love scratches but that’s expected. This was not.

🐢❤️

Do they really feel that?

@RyskanTheHealer c'mere let me skritch you