How are turtles and tortoises different?

Answer 1

Turtles can become ninjas. Tortoises can't.

Answer 2

The word "turtle" is often used to refer to all species of water turtle, sea turtle, box turtle, terrapin, and tortoise. Scientists group all of these animals together in the same biological order, the Testudines. Tortoises are a special group within this order of turtles.


Turtles are aquatic animals that have low streamlined shells to aid in swimming. Tortoises are terrestrial (land-living) and have high, domed shells. They cannot swim and will drown in deep water. Turtles generally have slim, webbed feet (except sea turtles, which have wide flipper-like feet). Tortoises have large stumpy feet that support their heavier weight and make it easier to walk on different land surfaces. They also have long nails for digging in the ground. Turtles are generally omnivorous while tortoises are herbivores, although they will occasionally eat meat.

Answer 3

The differences between aquatic freshwater turtles and tortoises include:
Turtles mainly live/swim in the water, coming out to bask/dry out their shells, while tortoises live on land and like to soak in shallow water, but they don't swim!

Turtles have webbed feet, and large back feet to help propel them around, tortoises have regular feet that are hard and scaly to help them walk across land.

Turtles have more streamlined, flatter shells, while tortoises have high domed shells.

Turtles can hold their breath under water for long periods of time, torties don't.

Turtles will eat both plant and animal matter, tortoises are mainly herbivorous.

Answer 4

Apart from the spelling, not very. There's a general feeling that "tortoise" is more of a land animal, but then therre are many land-dwelling turtles, as well. I don't know of any aquatic tortoises, though.

Answer 5

Turtles and tortoises are known as chelonians, from the Greek word for "tortoise," chelona. Chelonian refers to all turtles and tortoises, no matter whether they live in the ocean, in fresh water, or on land.

The term turtles applies to chelonians that live in or around water. Sea turtles, for example, never leave the ocean except to lay their eggs. Other turtles are more or less aquatic, depending on their species. The sliders, mud, bog, and leaf turtles are all found close to fresh water. Terrapins are aquatic turtles that people frequently eat. Many terrapins live in and close to brackish salt water. Box turtles are primarily terrestrial (land roving) but are almost always found within walking distance of water.

The term tortoise refers to chelonians that live on land and rarely venture into water except to drink or bathe. Tortoises range in size from tiny little guys weighing less than 1 pound to gigantic, weighing over 600 (or more) pounds. Size aside, tortoises have many things in common. They are primarily herbivores (plant eaters), although many will scavenge, given the chance. Tortoises also usually have hard shells, often with high domes, to help protect against predators.

Answer 6

turtles live in or around water.
tortoises dont.

Answer 7

tortoises tend to grow bigger and are from land and turtles do not grow as much.

Answer 8

tortoises grow to be big, turtles stay small
im pretty sure...

Answer 9

look it up on google.com

Answer 10

i think tortises r bigger... and they have different names