Tortoiseshell Tortoiseshell Tortoiseshell or tortoise shell is a material produced from the shells of the larger species of tortoise and turtle, mainly the hawksbill sea turtle, which is an endangered species largely because of its exploitation for the material. The large size, fine colour and unusual form of the hawksbill's scutes make it especially suitable. The distinctive patterning is referred to in names such as the tortoiseshell cat, several breeds of guinea pig, and the common names of several species of the butterfly genera "Nymphalis" and "Aglais", and some other uses. Tortoiseshell was widely used from ancient times in the West
Galápagos green turtle Galápagos green turtle The Galápagos green turtle ("Chelonia agassizii") is a species of turtle that used to be classified as a subspecies of the green sea turtle ("Chelonia mydas") but was changed for a few reasons. One, caudal dimorphism (vertebrae of the same species changing), means that "Chelonia agassizii" (or ""Chelonia agassizi"" ) has a more domed shell. Another is the colour of the shell – Galápagos green turtles have a darker shell colour. It is endemic to the tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. They are often categorized as one population of the east Pacific green turtle.