Turtle vs tortoise
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solidsounds17
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The way you spell it, for starters.
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This is a question that you'll get a hundred different answers from a hundred different people! Back when I used to do educational talks on tortoises and turtles to school children and other groups the question would always come up and this what I would tell them (straight off my cue cards!):
First, tortoises are actually turtles, at least that is what they're classified. But they differ from each other in many ways. Tortoises are strictly terrestrial and only require access to water to drink. Many species of tortoises can go for days without water if they have to. Turtle species are more diverse. They are all either aquatic, semi-aquatic or semi-terrestrial.
Regardless of which they all have some reliance on water on a regular basis. They either live in it, require it for hibernation and breeding or rely on it for food sources.
Tortoises are generally built to take on adversity on land. Their skin is thicker, more rugged and covered with more hard scales for protection. Their legs are almost elephant like and their shells are harder, thicker and better designed to withstand erosion from winds, dust, dirt and thick brush. Their bodies are evolved to store water if necessary and to withstand droughts and food shortages.
Most turtles are evolved to survive in more specific habitats in regard to their physical make up. For example, Painted turtles will not do well on land with no access to water for extended periods. Box turtles will not do well if made to live in a completely aquatic environment with no access to land. In general turtles have a softer, more pliable skin with fewer hard scales and with regard to aquatics and semi-aquatic turtles their bodies are more streamlined for swimming and spending most or nearly all of their time in water. Sea turtles and freshwater softshell turtles are an excellent example of this.
Tortoises are primarily herbivores, not requiring any amount of animal protein in their diet. Turtles, depending upon species, are either omnivores or carnivores, requiring a frequent or regular amount of animal protein in their diet to remain healthy.
One could probably go on and on about the differences and even find some similarities as well as point out the several exceptions.
First, tortoises are actually turtles, at least that is what they're classified. But they differ from each other in many ways. Tortoises are strictly terrestrial and only require access to water to drink. Many species of tortoises can go for days without water if they have to. Turtle species are more diverse. They are all either aquatic, semi-aquatic or semi-terrestrial.
Regardless of which they all have some reliance on water on a regular basis. They either live in it, require it for hibernation and breeding or rely on it for food sources.
Tortoises are generally built to take on adversity on land. Their skin is thicker, more rugged and covered with more hard scales for protection. Their legs are almost elephant like and their shells are harder, thicker and better designed to withstand erosion from winds, dust, dirt and thick brush. Their bodies are evolved to store water if necessary and to withstand droughts and food shortages.
Most turtles are evolved to survive in more specific habitats in regard to their physical make up. For example, Painted turtles will not do well on land with no access to water for extended periods. Box turtles will not do well if made to live in a completely aquatic environment with no access to land. In general turtles have a softer, more pliable skin with fewer hard scales and with regard to aquatics and semi-aquatic turtles their bodies are more streamlined for swimming and spending most or nearly all of their time in water. Sea turtles and freshwater softshell turtles are an excellent example of this.
Tortoises are primarily herbivores, not requiring any amount of animal protein in their diet. Turtles, depending upon species, are either omnivores or carnivores, requiring a frequent or regular amount of animal protein in their diet to remain healthy.
One could probably go on and on about the differences and even find some similarities as well as point out the several exceptions.
Turtle vs Tortoise - Difference and Comparison | Diffen
What's the difference between Tortoise and Turtle? Tortoises and turtles are both reptiles from the order of Testudines, but in different classification families. The major difference between the two is that tortoises dwell on land, while turtles live in the water some or nearly all of the time...
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