is there a difference between turtle and tortoise?

Question

I´m not a native speaker, so maybe it actually is a stupid question, but how would I know?

Answer 1

Good question.
Those terms mean different things in different countries.
Both turtles & tortoises are chelonians yet in Australia most water based chelonians are called tortoises.
In the USA, a turtle is generally a chelonian whose normal habitat is a body of water.One exceptian - box turtles.
In the USA, a tortoise is a land based chelonian.

If English is truly not your native language, your use of English is better than most of ths posters here.

Answer 2

The meat tastes different. Just kidding.

A division of reptiles, called chelonians, includes turtles, tortoises, and terrapins. For the most part, the difference between a turtle and tortoise is more of a rough semantic category than a strict taxonomic separation. In general, a turtle lives in or near the water and has adapted to swim by holding their breath underwater. A tortoise lives in an arid region, comfortable with storing water and walking on sandy ground.

A turtle lives in freshwater, the ocean, or brackish ponds and marshland. A tortoise lives entirely above water, only wading into streams to clean itself or take a drink. In fact, it could drown in deep or swift current. A turtle has a flatter back than a tortoise.

Turtles are more often omnivorous, eating plants, insects, and fish. A tortoise is mostly herbivorous, eating cactus, shrubs, and other plants that have a lot of moisture.

Sometimes the name "terrapin" refers to those animals that fall somewhere between a turtle and tortoise, because they live in swampy areas or begin life underwater and eventually move to dry land.

Answer 3

Most species of turtle can withdraw it's head, limbs and tail into it shell and a tortoise cannot.

Not all turtles are aquatic, there are many terrestrial or land turtles which live similar to tortoises.

The key difference is tortoises cannot withdraw it head and body limbs inside it's shell and most turtles can..

Answer 4

A turtle lives in water and a tortoise in lives on land.

Answer 5

turtle - Any of various aquatic or terrestrial reptiles of the order Testudines (or Chelonia), having horny toothless jaws and a bony or leathery shell into which the head, limbs, and tail can be withdrawn in most species.
tortoise- Any of various terrestrial turtles, especially one of the family Testudinidae, characteristically having thick clublike hind limbs and a high, rounded carapace.


so they are really the same but a tortoise is a type of turtle

Answer 6

Turtle live on land as well as water. Tortoise survive on land only.

Answer 7

Yes, turtles are aquatic creatures and live in water. Tortoises live on land.

Answer 8

yes there is because a turtle is a girl. A tortoise is a boy.

Answer 9

a turtle lives near water and can swim, a tortoise lives in the dessert and will drown in water.

Answer 10

both reptiles & amphibians.

difference would be the size of house they are carrying..their shells as tortoises carries lighter.

Shells are bigger for turtles whereas for tortoises they are a lot smaller.