what is the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?

Answer 1

Turtles are adapted marine life so they have flippers type feet when compared to tortoise which has foot adapted to move on land.

Answer 2

Main difference is simple. Turtles take to the sea, and tortoises take to land. Throw a tortoise into an ocean and it'd probably drown. In the same way, sea turtles don't belong anywhere near desert tortoises. You've never heard of desert turtles or sea tortoises have you?

Answer 3

Although the word "turtle" is widely used to describe all members of the order Testudines, it is also common to see certain members described as terrapins, tortoises or sea turtles as well. Precisely how these alternative names are used, if at all, depends on the type of English being used.

British English normally describes these reptiles as turtles if they live in the sea; terrapins if they live in fresh or brackish water; or tortoises if they live on land. However, there are exceptions to this where American or Australian common names are in wide use, as with the Fly River turtle.
American English tends to use the word turtle for all species regardless of habitat, although tortoise may be used as a more precise term for any land-dwelling species. Oceanic species may be more specifically referred to as sea turtles. The name "terrapin" is strictly reserved for the brackish water diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin; the word terrapin in this case being derived from the Algonquian word for this animal.
Australian English uses turtle for both the marine and freshwater species but tortoise for the terrestrial species.
To avoid confusion, the word chelonian is popular among veterinarians, scientists, and conservationists working with these animals as a catch-all name for any member of the order Testudines. It is based on the Ancient Greek word χελώνη (chelone, modern Greek χελώνα), meaning tortoise.

Answer 4

Mainly the spelling. While "tortoise" is used pretty much exclusively for terrestrial members of the group, "turtle" is used freely for both aquatic and terrestrial types. Language is like that - it varies from place to place, and original usage changes over time. That is, of course, why 'scientific names' were invented. They're all reptiles, by the way. Amphibians are something else entirely.

Answer 5

Tortoises live on land and turtles live in the sea. Though both can travel on land or in water.(I think)

Answer 6

Turtles are adapted to life both in water and on land i.e. they are are amphibians and as such have features like the flipper-like legs that aid them in swimming while tortoises live mainly on land.

Answer 7

Tortoises are land-dwellers with feet. Turtles are sea-dwellers with flippers.

Answer 8

A tortoise won't drown, is flouds on the water, believe me, I've seen it.

Answer 9

i dont know sorry....