Pyramiding plastron

[PeanutbuttER]

I was thinking more about this today. I'm confused as to why plastrons don't pyramid. I'm used to only hearing about pyramiding carapaces.

From my understanding both the carapace and plastron have scutes that likely grow using a similar mechanism. Yet, if the lubricant theory is right, then scutes need to be able to more or less slide off one another to grow smoothly. Wouldn't the plastron scutes need that as well? Yet we get smooth tortoises from spraying the carapace till it drips and plastron wetness makes no difference?

I don't know much about actual tortoise anatomy nor physiology, so this is probably something obvious that I just have never learned.

 

[Tracy Gould]

well i think it because the plastron picks up moisture from the ground and any moss were the top does not come in to contact with the ground as much

 

[dmmj]

I believe they grow differently, so IMO it does not affect them the same way.

 

[jackrat]

What does Prichard say,Madkins?

 

[Tom]

Here's what we learned when we last went over this...
http://tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Pyramiding-Plastron?highlight=plastron

 

[PeanutbuttER]

oh, I guess i missed that when it came around last time. Thanks for all the input guys! Interesting that it even has the exact same title...