Turtle Shell Close-Up

Seen from directly above, this turtle shell close-up fills the page with the full top of a detailed shell, its neat rows of hexagonal and rectangular segment plates forming a bold, satisfying pattern. The head and four legs peek out around the edges, framing all those plates that are just waiting to be colored. Because each section is clearly outlined, this page is wonderful for pattern play: color the plates in a rainbow, a repeating design, or a careful natural pattern. A turtle's shell is actually part of its skeleton and is made of plates called scutes, with the dome on top and a flatter plate underneath. The shell grows along with the turtle and keeps it protected, which is why a turtle can never crawl out of it the way a hermit crab leaves a borrowed shell. Print it on US Letter or A4 and turn this shell into your own colorful mosaic, one plate at a time.