Copying and pasting my own comment from a previous time this was posted:
People always have questions about this one: those things are called conical papillae, and they are pieces of keratinized tissue. Keratinized just means containing lots of keratin: keratin is the main component of hair and nails and is very tough. These things are designed to be tough and rigid to help the turtle swallow one of its very common prey items, jellyfish: the papillae are oriented in a way that helps to direct the prey down the turtle's throat.
Other critters have papillar similar to this for eating different food items. Cattle are a good example with smaller papillae in their mouths, adapted for protecting their mouth from tough plant matter.
Beardedrugbymonster on February 24th, 2018 at 17:05 UTC »
Bet you that thing could eat a whole box of Cap'n Crunch and not feel a thing.
nyck1118 on February 24th, 2018 at 17:26 UTC »
RIP Boba Fett
SeriesOfAdjectives on February 24th, 2018 at 18:57 UTC »
Copying and pasting my own comment from a previous time this was posted:
People always have questions about this one: those things are called conical papillae, and they are pieces of keratinized tissue. Keratinized just means containing lots of keratin: keratin is the main component of hair and nails and is very tough. These things are designed to be tough and rigid to help the turtle swallow one of its very common prey items, jellyfish: the papillae are oriented in a way that helps to direct the prey down the turtle's throat.
Other critters have papillar similar to this for eating different food items. Cattle are a good example with smaller papillae in their mouths, adapted for protecting their mouth from tough plant matter.