Carapace

 ( Animal Anatomy ) 

A carapace is a dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including , such as and , as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.

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Crustaceans In , the carapace functions as a protective cover over the cephalothorax (i.e., the fused head and thorax, as distinct from the abdomen behind). Where it projects forward beyond the eyes, this projection is called a rostrum. The carapace is Calcification to varying degrees in different crustaceans.

Zooplankton within the phylum Crustacea also have a carapace. These include Cladocera, , and Isopoda, but isopods only have a developed "cephalic shield" carapace covering the head.

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Arachnids In , the carapace is formed by the fusion of prosomal into a single plate which carries the eyes, ocularium, (a pair of openings of the scent gland of Opiliones) and diverse phaneres.

Jan Beccaloni (2025). 9780520261402, University of California Press. ISBN 9780520261402

In a few orders, such as Solifugae and Schizomida, the carapace may be subdivided. In Opiliones, some authors prefer to use the term carapace interchangeably with the term cephalothorax, which is incorrect usage, because carapace refers only to the dorsal part of the exoskeleton of the cephalothorax.

Alternative terms for the carapace of arachnids and their relatives, which avoids confusion with crustaceans, are prosomal dorsal shield and peltidium.

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Turtles and tortoises The carapace is the dorsal (back) convex part of the shell structure of a turtle, consisting primarily of the animal's rib cage, dermal armor, and .

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See also

• Armour (zoology)

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External links

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