Turtles

What is the difference between a Turtle and Tortoise? Do you know?

One of the main differences between them is that turtles spend much of their time in or near water where as the majority of a tortoises are terrestrial, or land dwelling. Even the shapes of their shells are different to accommodate the type of habitats they live in. You will notice that most tortoise shells are very domed while aquatic turtles often have more streamlined shells to help them move through the water. Another difference between the two can be seen in the shape and structure of their legs and feet. Turtles will often either have flipper like feet or webbed feet whereas a tortoise will have more robust legs and feet. This is because they need to be able to walk and climb over different terrains on land. While all tortoises are technically considered turtles, not all turtles are considered tortoises. Why is that? The biggest reason is that they both belong to the scientific animal "Order(s)" known as Testudines or Chelonia, which means they are an animal with a bony shell.  

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Other Fun Facts about Turtles/Tortoises

• They do not and cannot exit their shells completely. As they grow, their shell grows with them. The shell of these creatures are attached to their bodies; in fact, their very spine is interconnected with their shell.

• The Top part of their shell is called the carapace and the bottom part of the shell is called the plastron.

• You have more in common with turtles than you think. The individual bony plate-like structures you see on a turtle's carapace are called SCUTES. These scutes are made of the same protein as your finger nails called Keratin!

• Did you know that they can feel touch on their shells? Yep, because of how their bodies are built, their shells have nerve endings. They can feel scratches and pain just like you can on your skin. Some turtles and tortoises do enjoy a gentle shell scratch, while others are much more sensitive.