How hard is tortoise shell?

A tortoise shell is not only hard, but slick. Combining these two makes a tortoise shell very difficult to break, as even the strongest jaw’s teeth may not have the right purchase to crush the shell. This has allowed tortoises to survive attacks from large predators like dogs, crocodiles, and others. read more

Turtle Shell Rot "Rot" is a term that reptile enthusiasts use to refer to an infection somewhere on the body. Shell rot obviously refers to an infection of the shell. Both the carapace and plastron can get shell rot. read more

The turtle shell, formed of overlapping plates of keratin that envelop the soft body of the reptile inside, is one of nature’s best protective coverings. Turtles lack speed, and most are not great fighters, so they rely on their hard shells to protect themselves from predators. read more