Carapace
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A Carapace is a dorsal section of an exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups.
Crustaceans
In crustaceans, the carapace is a part of the exoskeleton that covers the cephalothorax. It is particularly well developed in lobsters and crabs. It functions as a protective cover over the cephalothorax.
Arachnida
In Arachnida the carapace or peltidium is formed by the fusion of prosomal tergites into a single plate which carries the eyes, ocularium, ozopores (a pair of openings of the scent gland of Opiliones) and diverse phaneres. In a few orders, such as Solifugae and Schizomida it may be subdivided.Tortoises
The carapace is the dorsal, convex part of the shell structure of the tortoise, consisting of an external layer of horny material, divided into large plates known as scutes, which overlie a layer of interlocking bones. This construction allows for a sturdy tortoise.
The plastron makes up the other half of the tortoise's shell. All tortoises from sea turtles to box (or painted) turtles and desert tortoises can be distinguished by their species-specific arrangement of scutes.
In Fiction
In the fictional world of Starcraft, carapace also refers to the exoskeleton of certain Zerg creatures including mutalisks, zerglings, and hydralisks.
In the table top wargame set in the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000 the Tyranids are an insectiod like race which feature hardened carapace shell-plates on their backs, legs, arms, and torsos
In the Weebls-Stuff cartoon On The Moon episode, three, Insanity Prawn Boy complains "My carapace is killing me" after a hard night of drinking and eating moon cheese.
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