What is the difference between a tortoise and a turtle?

Answer 1

(m)

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. Colloquially, both biologists and lay people use the word, "turtle" to mean all chelonians. 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.

In a biological respect, a tortoise is a turtle, but not all turtles are tortoises. Tortoises occupy their own taxonomic family, called testudinidae. All types of land and aquatic turtles come in a wide range of sizes, colors, and shapes. 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.

A turtle lives in freshwater, the ocean, or brackish ponds and marshland. Its front feet might be fins or merely webbed toes with streamlined back feet that help it to swim. A turtle has a flatter back than a tortoise. It might spend all or part of its life underwater. They mate and lay eggs underwater or on the shore. Some turtles sun themselves on logs, rocks, or sandy banks. During cold weather, they burrow in mud and go into torpor, a state similar to hibernation. Sea turtles migrate great distances. They are more often omnivorous, eating plants, insects, and fish.

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. Its feet are hard, scaly, and nubby so it can crawl across sharp rocks and sand. A tortoise may even have claws to dig burrows. Burrows are occupied during hot, sunny weather or during sleep. A tortoise is mostly herbivorous, eating cactus, shrubs, and other plants that have a lot of moisture. They rarely migrate. Their shell forms a rounded dome, allowing the tortoise's limbs and head to withdraw for protection.

Answer 2

Dear Summergen65
When you look at them, the differences are:
Tortoises live on land ,they have feet with tiny claws/nails and they mostly walk around.
Turtles swim around and they have flippers (not feet) though they can get about on land.
Also, tortoises are sadly lagging behind turtles in the cartoon adventure series stakes.
No Ninja Tortoises known.!

Answer 3

Tortoise is a land reptile
Turtle spend most of their time in the sea coming on to the beach to lay eggs.

Answer 4

a tortoise is a land and sea reptile while a turtle is mainly a sea reptile.

Answer 5

a tortoise is a land / dessert dweller. a turtle is aquatic.

Answer 6

tortoise---freshwater or land reptile. turtle--sea reptile