Turtle tails

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Weighing in here but... I kind of like it both ways depending on the version. In any case my headcanon is very stunted tails that are mostly hidden under/curled beneath the shell. Rather than have then sticking out (and providing a tempting and highly sensitive target during fights) they would most likely keep them tucked in. And I've seen anatomical drawings for both with and without tails that explain the peen/poo issue. With the tail it is pretty much like the average non-mutant turtle. Without, it is probably more along the lines of a human (or nearly so) configuration. My theory is that like most of us "ladies", they probably SIT to do their business, as reptile peens do not share double-duty as pee-holes.

Lets not forget Leo also ducked his head down in TMNT III. And it was clear that it goes in completely. How that works is anyone's guess, but Id bet their limbs could never fit. Heck, MOST versions have at least their heads still able to tuck in, but I DO think PD and Nick took it a little too far for the sake of humor.

[ProactiveMan]

I could never work out if they were implying that the Turtles had retracted into their shells at the end of SOTO. When Super Shredder pulls the dock down, and the Turtles bob up from underwater, you only see their shells. Then it sort-of looks like the filmmakers were trying to make it read like they are popping back out as they grab onto the remaining dock. You can easily read it otherwise though, because it's not very clear.

[Rooish]

Okay, so this is a conversation that's now happening in my life.

So can someone explain what it's all about on a real turtle? So they have a cloaca from which pee/poo come out. They also have a penis that's connected to their tail? Is that what's being said? Is it a retractable penis?

Visually I generally prefer no tail usually. It helps me not have to think about their bits. But I admit it makes no sense.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Rooish

So can someone explain what it's all about on a real turtle? So they have a cloaca from which pee/poo come out. They also have a penis that's connected to their tail?

Google, like, "red earred slider penis" and you'll see how it works. It pops out of a slit in the tail and goes way up.

i.e., if the Turtles have no tail... then they have no ****s. Unless they're intentionally tucking their tail inside.

And god dammit, my TMNT should have ****s.

[Kendamu]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

So answer the question. Where are their ****s? You're saying they just retain the cloaca? All four of them just have this big maw back there, between the plastron and the carapace? How would they even know they're male, then? Sounds dodgy to me.

And with no tail, how do they go #2? Just... sploosh, right out the back of their shell? Gross. That can't be right.

How the Turtles poop isn't really anything I think about. Ever. It simply just doesn't matter to me at all.

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EDIT: Welp, I assumed the wrong word there underneath all that board censorship. I feel like a doofus.

Still, my point remains because the Turtles' genitals really aren't a part of my day.

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That said, I don't really care either way whether or not the Turtles are depicted with tails or not. If they're there, they're there. If not, then they're not. I'm cool with it either way.

[IndigoErth]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

And god dammit, my TMNT should have ****s.

But Mirage Turtles tails are tiny, so isn't that a little...unfortunate? Is it even reasonable at that size, for any purpose.

Unless they're intentionally tucking their tail inside.

Where though, shouldn't it still be apparent at some angles? Save for versions that stupidly give them, what shall we call it... a crotch plate? I guess that could be assumed to conceal it, but that crotch piece just raises more questions, and compilations.


Personally I find that piece odd and unnecessary. '87 did just fine without. So you get the occasional nondescript green crotch shot....the world survived. (Unless you're a 'realistic' CGI mocap Turtle, then this requires pants. And did you really want PD Mikey written to purposely moon the audience? Didn't think so.)

[DarkFell]

For me, it would depend on how the Turtles are drawn.

Mirage & realistically drawn TMNT - Tails are fine.
Fred Wolf / Archie Comics drawn TMNT - Nope. I can't see them with their tails.
IDW drawn TMNT- Turtle tails are okay.

The live action movies ..y'know, I never thought about the Turtle having their tails at all. I sorta thought that their tails shrunk into their bodies when they mutated into their humanoid forms, just like a frog's tail will shrink into its body as it physically develops from its tadpole stage to live on land near the water.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

But Mirage Turtles tails are tiny, so isn't that a little...unfortunate? Is it even reasonable at that size

Um... yeah, look at red-earred sliders. Again, going back to the googling "red earred slider penis." Even factoring in the proportionate size of the tail in the TMNT... they could still scratch their chins with them.

[Candy Kappa]

Originally Posted by Rooish

So can someone explain what it's all about on a real turtle? So they have a cloaca from which pee/poo come out. They also have a penis that's connected to their tail? Is that what's being said? Is it a retractable penis?

A cloaca is a all purpose orifice, it's as simple as that. So a male turtle's penis pops out of the cloaca.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Exactly. Even without a tail, if they still have that then the peen is still there. Either way, I envision the d*** still retracting just like a normal turtle's would. Perhaps the cloaca is simply a hole under the shell and everything still works the same, just sans tail. The tail itself is not even really neccessary for that anatomically, asthe cloaca is a slit at the base of it.

I agree that the crotch plate is utterly rediculous and makes no sense. There wouls be no place for either the d*** to emerge from nor any place for the cloaca and the "plumbing" it contains. Google turtle anatomy charts- there are some good ones online. In fact, the one in Donnie's workshop in Nick is an image of a very simple but popular one used in anatomy studies of turtles!

[pferreira]

I can't say I ever noticed the Turtles had tails or care. I guess I just wasn't looking enough.

Doesn't really bother me unless it affects how they look visually.

[Papenbrook]

Yes (,in some situations).

No (,in others).

[pferreira]

Originally Posted by Papenbrook

Yes (,in some situations).

No (,in others).

How would that work? Sometimes their tails would go in, sometimes they pop out?

[Chet]

If we're talking about mutations from real turtles, let's talk about the fact that the ooze gave the Turtles teeth. And that the Turtles seem to have no problem being "naked" in snow despite being cold-blooded creatures. (Yes Mike wears snow clothes in his one-shot, but that seems to be more about blending into the human crowd, Turtles are often seen in snow without any clothes).

[Garnet]

I don't mind tails, if the cartoonist really wants to emphasize the animal look. It's kind of interesting, but I'm not chasing after that. But I would be disappointed if in the process of animalization they lost their teeth.

I know hardly anything about the furry fandom. Is TMNT part of it with characters like Old Hob or Alopex ?

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Lol, you haven't been on Deviant Art, have you? Or Ink Bunny, or AO3, or.....

[Garnet]

No I didn't. But now I know. Sorry for the dumb question, and thanks for the hint.

[sdp]

[Leo656]

Jesus.

Y'all Muthaf*ckas.

Desperately Need.

[snake]

Originally Posted by sdp

Can someone explain to me how a fan-made commercial from 2008 has the exact same design for Raph as the 2014 movie? How deep does this rabbit-hole go? There is absolutely no way this was a coincidence.