The point of that little scale dip by the neck?

[Yellow Turtle01]

What is the point of that little scale dip by the neck of tortoise and turtles?
Not very clear but here's a pic- - what is that? I've been noticing it on EVERYBODY, including the turtles. Kind of seems careless not to have seen it before but
I was guessing it allows their head to stretch higher, to reach higher vegetation or something, but that doesn't apply for the turtles, does it?
Thank you

 

[Yvonne G]

Some tortoises have a little scute in that 'v' above the head, and if so, it's called a nuchal scute. Some species do not have a nuchal scute. It's just their design. I doubt it has a purpose.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

So it's really just a 'cosmetic' thing?

 

[ascott]

So it's really just a 'cosmetic' thing?

Oh nooooooo....here come the debate posts....I am outta here.....not even going to the bleachers, I don't want to see the potential havoc...lol....

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Oh nooooooo....here come the debate posts....I am outta here.....not even going to the bleachers, I don't want to see the potential havoc...lol....

Wait! Before you leave do you know if there is a particular purpose for the 'nuchal scute'? (I have laughed way too much today...)

 

[ascott]

Wait! Before you leave do you know if there is a particular purpose for the 'nuchal scute'? (I have laughed way too much today...)

I always thought it was a good neck scratcher....lol...that is all that is coming from me on the subject of the little nub.....

 

[bouaboua]

I will not debate and I will take the neck scratcher as the purpose of that scute. LOL! ! !

 

[motero]

It is so you can tell the difference between baby Sulcatas and Sonorans at a glance of a cell phone picture.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Like the back-scratcher idea