Can you identify the contrasts between a turtle (on the left) and a tortoise (on the right)?(Image credit: LL28 and Francesco Riccardo Iacomino via Getty Images)ShareShare by:
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While turtles and tortoises are both shelled reptiles, they possess distinctive traits. Therefore, how might you differentiate between them? What sets a turtle apart from a tortoise?
“Although tortoises are turtles, the reverse isn’t always true,” stated Sydnee Fenn, a reptile expert at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, in an interview with Live Science. Typically, the reptiles referred to as turtles devote a significant amount of their lives in aquatic environments, whereas tortoises inhabit terrestrial settings, as noted by Genius Vets in San Diego, California.
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“Should tortoises inadvertently find themselves on their backs while walking, the curvature of their shells aids in their ability to right themselves,” Fenn explained. “The domed configuration also permits greater internal space, enabling some species to withdraw all their extremities into their shells.”
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However, there are exceptions to this principle. For example, “the pancake tortoise native to Africa lacks the characteristic domed, rigid carapace seen in other tortoises,” Brett Baldwin, the curator of herpetology and ichthyology at the San Diego Zoo, explained to Live Science. “It has fostered a shell that is flattened, less densely calcified, and flexible, empowering it to swiftly slip into rocky fissures and secure itself by inflating its adaptable carapace.”
Turtles inhabiting both aquatic and terrestrial environments possess webbed feet, enabling them to swim and navigate land when necessary. Fully aquatic turtles, such as sea turtles, have evolved flippers, as Genius Vets points out. Conversely, tortoises typically exhibit rounded feet and stocky legs, according to the San Diego Zoo.
“Shorter, more robust, and stable legs facilitate movement and enable the transport of their substantial shells in terrestrial environments,” Baldwin clarified. As an illustration, Fenn mentioned that desert tortoises benefit from “wide feet that aid in traversing sandy terrains, similar to the feet of camels.”
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(Image credit: David A. Northcott via Getty Images)
Distinct from other tortoises with domed shells, the pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) features a flattened, slender, and adaptable shell.
(Image credit: Mara Brandl via Getty Images)
The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) utilizes its broad feet for effortless navigation across the sand.
(Image credit: by wildestanimal via Getty Images)
A hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) traverses a coral reef in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea. Observe the flattened form of its shell, which aids in its maneuverability through water compared to the domed shell of a tortoise.
In general, non-tortoise turtles consume both plants and animals, while tortoises primarily feed on plants, according to Fenn. Given their aquatic adaptations, non-tortoise turtles possess the swiftness to capture prey in the water, expanding their dietary options, she explained. Conversely, tortoises are known for their slowness on land, leading them to mainly subsist on vegetation.
However, “tortoises may seize opportunities to consume meat,” Fenn noted. “They do not actively pursue prey like a tiger, but if they encounter meat” like insects or carrion, “they might consume it.” Moreover, certain turtle species, such as the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), are herbivores, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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Tortoises inhabit every continent except Australia and Antarctica, favoring climates ranging from warm to hot, such as deserts and jungles, as stated by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Meanwhile, turtles populate every continent except Antarctica, and sea turtles spend their lives in oceans across the globe, as Genius Vets indicates. Fenn pointed out that turtles’ affinity for water contributes to their survival, even when air and ground temperatures drop.
“They have the ability to retreat into deeper waters where the temperature remains warmer, especially during the winter months,” she elaborated. “Certain turtles can even respire underwater via their cloacas, facilitating concealment beneath frozen water. Overall, their capacity to endure cooler climates influences their global distribution.”
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Charles Q. ChoiSocial Links NavigationLive Science ContributorCharles Q. Choi is a contributing writer for Live Science and Space.com. He covers all things human origins and astronomy as well as physics, animals and general science topics. Charles has a Master of Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida. Charles has visited every continent on Earth, drinking rancid yak butter tea in Lhasa, snorkeling with sea lions in the Galapagos and even climbing an iceberg in Antarctica.Show More Comments
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