Unlike most pseudosuchians, poposauroids lack bony scutes known as osteoderms. The carapace has five pairs of costal scutes. Its carapace is composed of five central scutes flanked by four pairs of lateral scutes. They are called "softshell" because their carapace lacks horny scutes (scales). Lateral scutes are smaller than the dorsal and ventral scutes. The plastron is yellowish, sometimes with dark blotches in the centers of the scutes. Also bony cheek scutes were present. The larger keeled scutes were aligned in regular horizontal rows. Armor includes three conical scutes and one tall, spiny element. This is caused by loss of keratinized scutes and some bony tissue loss. These spines and plates have evolved from the earlier surface scutes. They have small heads, upturned snouts, erect limbs, and a body covered by plate-like scutes. Both hatchlings and juveniles have serrated posterior marginal scutes, which become smooth with age. This appropriately describes the turtles' overlapping posterior scutes. Terrestrial tortoises do not shed their scutes.