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A TORTOISE on the Rancho Primicias reserve on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands.
A TORTOISE on the Rancho Primicias reserve on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands.
You make think that turtles and tortoises are the same thing. But you would be mistaken! There are many differences between them. Here are just a few:

Residence/habitat: Turtles live in the water and tortoises live on the land.

Physical characteristics: Turtles tend to be smaller, while tortoises tend to be larger.

Lifespan: Turtles live 20 to 40 years while tortoises can be 80 to 150 years old.

Shell: Turtles have flat shells, webbed feet and long claws. Tortoises have domed shells with short yet strong feet.

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Turtles and tortoises are also alike in some ways. Here are a few examples:

Physical characteristics: tortoises and turtles both have shells. This is a fabulous way for camouflage and protection.

Classifications: Tortoises and turtles are both reptiles.


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