tortoise shells
Slow creature's housing
Tortoise shells are the hard, protective coverings of tortoises, composed of bone and keratin plates.
The distinctive mottled pattern of yellows, browns, and blacks gives the adjective tortoiseshell, describing cats with similar coloring or decorative items made from or imitating this material: tortoiseshell glasses, a tortoiseshell cat.
Trade in actual tortoise shell is now largely banned to protect endangered species.
- armourBody shielding for combat
- scutesHorny epidermal plates
- plastronVentral shell portion
- oracle bonesInscribed Shang divination remains
- carapaceProtective dorsal exoskeleton
keratinous · protective · hawksbill · endangered species · chelonian · divination · ancient China · combs · conservation · jewelry · acetate · poaching · wildlife trade · integuments · scales · talisman · good luck charm · mottling
- Chinese Mythologycreation story, Jade Emperor, white snake, celestial beings, fox spirits
- wildlife tradewildlife trafficking, illegal trade, poaching, ivory trade, rhino horn
- writing surfacespaper, papyrus, parchment, vellum, clay tablet
- Chinese textshistorical documents, historical archives, official documents, historical texts, oracle bone script