How to tell difference between a tortoise and a turtle?

Question

I have a large pond with turtles, and I sometimes find one near the house, about 200 feet from the pond. So I take it back there and it swims off. Thing is I don't want to drown a tortoise, so how can I be sure of what I am picking up?

Thanks for your answers so far. If they want to migrate they can, and some perhaps have. I am only talking about the odd one that ends up at the house, where it is not safe from my two dogs. I usually put these just in at the edge of the pond. The pond is about 100' across and surrounded with grass and vegetation, but as for food/resources I don't know what a turtle would regard as a good place. There are plenty of fish, frogs and insects that seem happy enough there.

Answer 1

most water turtles are green, except for the musk and snapping turtles, they have webbed feet with longer toenails and they usually have a flatter shell
the tortoises are usually brown or dark tan, they might have red, yellow or orange on their heads and their front legs, their legs look like elephants legs
all turtles and tortoises get in the water occasionally and it won't hurt a tortoise if you put it in the water, just make sure that it can get out of the pond and doesn't drown get a good book for references and photos

Answer 2

1. There is absolutely NO reason to put ANY turtles back in the pond- they may be migrating looking for new territories and resources (does your pond have enough food for them all?) If they are in danger, put them closer to the pond, but always give them that option. That will automatically fix the problem!

2. Where do you live? Most places in the world only have a couple of native land-dwelling species of turtle. If you are in the US, the box turtles all have high-domed shells and hinges on their bellies. The Gopher, Desert, and other tortoises have elephant-like front legs, are generally rare, and are very protected. In some places, even picking one up is against the law.

Try the photo gallery at http://www.tortoise.org for pictures of various turtles and tortoises.

Answer 3

the two have its origins from a family contributors called Testudines however the ameliorations arise by way of fact those that survive land are called tortoises while people who stay in water are called turtles. yet another distinction is that turtles enormously much constantly have a flat shell, streamlined shells for greater effectual propulsion in water while tortoises have great dome shaped shells with some bumps on the exterior with the glaring effect that the shells of the tortoise are plenty heavier than those of the turtle. Turtles inhabit Africa & usa & Tortoises in maximum cases Africa & Asia & some species inhabit usa additionally. For different comparisons consult from my hyperlink published