10 Difference Between Turtle and Tortoise (With Table)

What is the main difference between turtle and tortoise? The turtle lives in water while the tortoise lives on land. Turtles and tortoises are two groups of reptiles belonging to the order Testudines (Chelonia).

These shelled-reptiles are prominent and easily recognized among other reptile groups. Chelonians are the oldest living reptiles and comprises of turtles, tortoises, and terrapins. Turtle and tortoise are both reptiles but they belong to different families.

Both have been shielded by shells. The upper parts of their bodies are called the carapace, the lower part is called the plastron. The two are attached by a bridge. The head and the limbs can be withdrawn from the shell. They are reclusive and are shy in nature.

Difference between Turtle and Tortoise With Table

Characteristics	Turtle	Tortoise
Meaning	Refers to a reptile from the Chelonian family and lives in water.	Refers to a reptile from the Chelonian family and lives on land.
Geographical location	They are found in Africa and America.	They are found in Asia and Africa but some species exist in America.
Size	They are comparatively smaller in size.	They are large in body size.
Shape of shell	They have flat streamlined shells.	They have large dome-shaped shells.
Weight of the shell	Their shells are light in weight.	The shells are heavier.
Limbs	They have webbed feet with long claws.	The feet are short and sturdy with bent legs.
Head	The head is partially withdrawn into the shell.	The head can be completely withdrawn from the shell.
What they feed on	They feed on fruits, vegetation, meat hence they are omnivores.	They are mostly herbivores hence rely on plant matter.
Young ones	The young ones stay in the nest alone for 90 to 120 days.	The young ones move from the nest to their mother’s burrow soon after birth.
Lifespan	They live between 20 to 40 years.	They live between 80 to 150 years.

What is a Turtle?

A turtle is a type of reptile that belongs to the order Testudines, characterized by its distinctive shell. Turtles are among the oldest and most primitive groups of reptiles on Earth, with a history dating back over 200 million years. They are fascinating creatures known for their unique physical characteristics, behavior, and ecological importance.

Physical Characteristics:

Shell: Turtles are best known for their shell, which is composed of two parts: the upper part called the carapace and the lower part called the plastron. The shell is made of bone and is fused to the turtle’s spine and ribs, providing protection from predators.
Limb Structure: Turtles typically have four legs, and their limb structure can vary depending on their habitat and lifestyle. Aquatic turtles often have webbed feet for swimming, while land-dwelling turtles have sturdy, clawed feet for digging and walking.
Head and Neck: Turtles have a relatively short neck, and many species cannot retract their heads fully into their shells. Aquatic turtles generally have longer necks than terrestrial turtles.

Habitat and Distribution
Turtles can be found in a wide range of habitats, including oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, forests, and deserts. They are distributed across various continents, although some species have more limited ranges.
Aquatic turtles, such as sea turtles, spend most of their lives in water, while others, like tortoises, are adapted for a terrestrial lifestyle.

Diet and Feeding Habits
Turtles are omnivores, herbivores, or carnivores, depending on their species and habitat. Some primarily eat plants, while others feed on insects, fish, crustaceans, or carrion.
Their feeding methods can also vary. Some turtles are active hunters, while others are scavengers or graze on vegetation.

Reproduction
Turtles reproduce by laying eggs, usually in nests they dig in the ground. The incubation period varies among species and can range from a few weeks to several months.
The temperature at which the eggs are incubated can determine the sex of the hatchlings, a phenomenon known as temperature-dependent sex determination.

Behavior and Adaptations
Turtles have a reputation for being slow-moving, which is a result of their sturdy build and heavy shell. However, they can be surprisingly agile when necessary.
Some species, like the snapping turtle, are known for their aggressive and territorial behavior, while others are more docile.
Turtles have adapted to a wide range of environments and have unique features like the ability to retract their limbs and head into their shells for protection.

Conservation Status
Many turtle species are facing threats from habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation. As a result, numerous conservation efforts are underway to protect endangered and vulnerable turtle species.

What is a Tortoise?

A tortoise is a type of turtle that belongs to the family Testudinidae, characterized by several distinctive features and a primarily terrestrial lifestyle. Tortoises are often considered a subgroup of turtles, and they are known for their unique characteristics and behavior. Let’s provide a detailed definition and explanation to better understand what a tortoise is:

Physical Characteristics
Shell: Like all turtles, tortoises have a shell that consists of two parts: the upper carapace and the lower plastron. However, the shape and structure of their shells are adapted for a terrestrial lifestyle. Tortoises have a high, domed shell that provides protection against predators and helps them conserve water.
Limbs: Tortoises typically have short, sturdy legs with elephantine, columnar feet that are adapted for walking on land. These limbs are not webbed, as tortoises are not aquatic.
Head and Neck: They have a relatively short neck, which cannot be fully retracted into their shell, distinguishing them from some other turtle species.

Habitat and Distribution
Tortoises are exclusively terrestrial, meaning they live primarily on land and are not adapted for swimming or spending extended periods in water.
They are found in various terrestrial habitats, including deserts, grasslands, forests, and scrublands. Different species of tortoises are distributed in different parts of the world, with some occurring in North and South America, Africa, Asia, and the Galápagos Islands.

Diet and Feeding Habits
Tortoises are herbivores and primarily feed on vegetation, including grasses, leaves, fruits, and cacti. Their diets are adapted to the plant resources available in their specific habitats.
They have a slow metabolic rate and can extract moisture from the plants they consume, allowing them to survive in arid environments.

Behavior and Adaptations
Tortoises are known for their slow and deliberate movement, which is a result of their heavy, terrestrial adaptation. They rely on their sturdy shell for protection from predators. Many tortoise species are long-lived, with some individuals living for over a century.
They are ectothermic (cold-blooded), meaning their body temperature depends on their external environment. To regulate their temperature, tortoises often bask in the sun and seek shelter during extreme weather conditions.

Reproduction
Tortoises reproduce by laying eggs in shallow nests they dig in the ground. The incubation period varies by species and environmental conditions.
Some tortoise populations exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination, where the temperature during incubation influences the sex of the hatchlings.

Conservation Status
Many tortoise species are facing threats from habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation, and illegal wildlife trade. Some species are listed as endangered or critically endangered by conservation organizations.
Conservation efforts, including habitat protection and breeding programs, are underway to protect and conserve these iconic terrestrial reptiles.

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Main Differences between Turtle and Tortoise

Turtles live in water while tortoises live on land.
Turtles are comparatively smaller in body size while tortoises are larger in body size.
Turtles have flat streamlined shells while tortoises have large dome-shaped shells.
Turtles have light shells while tortoises have heavy shells.
Turtles are omnivores while tortoises are herbivores.
The turtle’s head is partially withdrawn from the shell while the tortoise head is completely withdrawn from the shell.

Similarities between Turtle and Tortoise

They are both reptiles.
Their bodies are both shielded by shells.
Both can withdraw head and limbs from the shell.
Both are reclusive and shy in nature.

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In Conclusion

Turtles and tortoises are both reptiles. Turtles live in water while tortoise lives on land. They both have a shell that protects them from danger. They can withdraw heads and limbs from the shell. They move slowly due to the heavy shell that they have on their bodies. The main feature that makes turtles different from tortoises is where they live.

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