When diving into the turtle’s world, there is a confusing question: are tortoises turtles? Tortoises are turtles but turtles are not tortoises. Turtles and tortoises belong to the same order but have different characteristics. Many people think of them as the same animal.
It’s normal to think so because they both move slowly and have the same type of shells. Also, they both have similar physical characteristics. Even if they have similarities, tortoises and turtles have many distinct habits or characteristics. So, if you are wondering about this question, are tortoises turtles? We will walk you through the clear answer to this.
Are Tortoises Turtles?
Yes, tortoises are turtles. A tortoise is a type of turtle, and any type of turtle or tortoise can be called a turtle. There are almost 356 species of turtles, including tortoises. All of them are known as turtles. A turtle is usually a land-dwelling species, whereas a tortoise is usually semiaquatic or lives in water.
Taxonomy And Classification of Turtles & Tortoises
Both turtles and tortoises belong to the order Testudines. In this order, you will see all reptiles with bony shells. There are two parts in this shell, e.g., upper and lower. The upper part is called a carapace, and the lower part is called the plastron.
When we say turtles, we mean all members of the Testudine order. And tortoise is a part of the Testudine order. It means, all turtles and tortoises are not the same.
If turtles are not tortoises, are tortoises turtles? See, tortoises are a part of the Testudinidae family, which is a subgroup of the Testudines order. So turtles and tortoises belong to the same order, i.e., testudine. But tortoises are in the subgroup of Testudine, i.e., Testudinidae. It means all tortoises are turtles, but all turtles are not tortoises. Let’s see some more differences between these two reptiles.
Are Tortoises Turtles: What Are The Differences?
Now, we know the basic answer to the question, “Are tortoises turtles?” They belong to the same order. However, there are differences in turtles and tortoises, so now let’s discover the differences –
Habitat Differences: Land vs. Water
Turtles and tortoises don’t live in the same way. Tortoises are land-dwellers, so they prefer living on land. But turtles are either aquatic or semi-aquatic. Some of them will live in saltwater or freshwater all day long, while some will spend half of their day there. It depends on the species of the turtle.
Along with land dwellers, tortoises are terrestrial animals. They like to live in dry environments, like deserts, grasslands, and forests. Sometimes you will see them near large bodies of water.
Since tortoises have thick, sturdy legs, they can’t swim. But it helps them to traverse uneven terrain. Their elephantine legs are the reason that they can’t swim, but walk.
Because of the aquatic nature of turtles, they spend most of their time in the ocean. But they don’t lay eggs there. They come ashore to do so. The turtles that go to ponds or freshwater spend most of their time in water and give some time to the land.
The webbed feet and flippers of turtles make them great swimmers. Sea turtles, on the other hand, have more streamlined flippers. That’s why they can glide in water easily but struggle to live on land.
Shell Shape and Structure
The shells of turtles and tortoises play a great role in their habitat. But it’s true that they get an undefined protection because of their shells. So, when having this question “Are turtles tortoises” we know the answer is no and there is a significant difference in their shell shape and structure.
Tortoise shells are large, heavy, and dome-shaped. This helps them to stay protected from their predators. The shells of tortoises are designed for strength and protection, not for hydrodynamics. These are so high and rounded that tortoises can easily store their body fat and water there.
Coming to turtle shells, they are flattered and streamlined, especially the sea turtle shells. This shape of turtles reduces water resistance and helps them move in water easily. Sea turtles have a smoother texture in their shell, helping them to navigate ocean currents.
Limbs And Movement
So far, we have understood that turtles and tortoises don’t move in the same way. Their differences in limbs are a reason for this.
The limbs of tortoises are thick, sturdy, short, and clawed. These are excellent to walk on land and cover distances to forage food. Turtles don’t need speed as they don’t live underwater. They need strength to live on land.
Turtles have webbed feet. Their front flippers are so powerful that they can swim long distances, including the entire ocean.
Diet And Feeding Habits
Tortoises are herbivorous. They feed on grasses, leafy plants, flowers, and fruits. Tortoises can even eat tough, fibrous food that most other animals can’t digest. They have a slow metabolism, so they don’t eat much and spend many days without eating. However, in rare cases, it has been seen that some tortoises eat insects and carrion.
All turtles don’t have the same food habits. Freshwater turtles are generally omnivorous. They eat plants, insects, fish, and crustaceans. Sea turtles, on the other hand, are herbivorous, especially green sea turtles. Some sea turtles, like loggerheads, are carnivorous. They feed on mollusks, jellyfish, and other marine animals.
Lifespan and Reproduction
Tortoises and turtles both can live for several decades. For example, the Galápagos tortoise can live more than 100 years, and some tortoises have a record of living 150 years. Their slow aging is the reason for their slow metabolism.
Turtles also live for several decades, but the span depends on the species. For example, sea turtles live for 50 to 100 years, whereas freshwater turtles live for 20 to 40 years.
Apart from lifespan, the nesting behavior of turtles and tortoises is not the same. Tortoises dig burrows on land to lay eggs. After laying, the mother leaves, and the eggs incubate and hatch on their own. Turtles also do the same. They leave after laying eggs. But they will return to the same beach after a year to lay eggs again. Sea turtles have to face many challenges in their reproductive cycle. That’s why only a small percentage of their hatchlings survive.
Behavior And Social Structure
Both turtles and tortoises lead a solitary life. Tortoises are loners, they only engage with other turtles at times of mating. They have a territorial nature, and try to establish dominance when it’s their mating season.
Turtles also lead a solitary life, but sometimes they engage in social behaviors. You will see sea turtles gathering together during their nesting season. Then freshwater turtles also gather while basking on logs or rocks.
If you want to know more about tortoise identification you can read more here.
FAQs
Why do turtles have flatter shells compared to tortoises?
Turtles have flatter and streamlined shells. This helps them to move efficiently in water. Meanwhile, tortoises have dome-shaped shells, which gives them protection and strength.
Are all tortoises turtles?
Tortoises are a kind of turtle. Both of them belong to the order Testudines, where all shelled reptiles belong. When we say turtles, we mean land-dwelling turtles, aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles. But when we talk about tortoises, we only mean land-dwelling tortoises. So yeah, tortoises are a type of turtle.
Can tortoises swim like turtles?
Although tortoises are a kind of turtle, they can’t swim like turtles. Their thick and columnar legs don’t allow them to do so. Turtles have webbed feet or flippers, allowing them to swim smoothly.
Conclusion
So, are tortoises turtles? Yes, they are. They indeed belong to the same ancestry and have many common physical traits, but are distinct animals. Tortoises lead a terrestrial lifestyle, and turtles lead an aquatic lifestyle. Besides, their shells, legs, and many other features vary.
Another convincing reason why turtles are not tortoises is because tortoises belong to the subgroup of the order Testudines and turtles belong to the order Testudines. We can say all tortoises are turtles somehow, but turtles are not tortoises at all.