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Dermochelyidae: The dermochelyds are marine turtles with broad, ridged shells that lack epidermal scutes. The dermal bones of the carapace and plastron are largely replaced by a mosaic of small platelets set in a leathery skin. The limbs are paddle-shaped and without claws: the anterior ones are very large, and the posterior ones of the adults are broadly connected to the tail by a web. This exraordinary creature can be confused with nothing else. It is distinguished from all other sea turtles by the scaleless black skin of its back and by the seven narrow ridges, formed by enlarged platelets of the dermal mosaic, that extend down the length of its back. Five similar keels occur on the ventral surface. There is a strongly marked cusp on each side of the upper jaw. |
