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Turtles and Tortoises are two different reptile species that are often misunderstood to be one and the same because of the similarity in their appearance.
- Turtles and Tortoises are a part of the same family, Testudines or Chelonian.
- They appear quite similar, however, there are certain features that make a clear distinction between them.
- Habitat is the fundamental difference between Turtles and Tortoises.
- Turtles are aquatic animals while tortoises are terrestrial creatures.
Both turtles and tortoises have a shell on their back for the purpose of protection and self-defense from predators, with their limbs and head protruding from it. The shells can also be distinguished separately between both of them.
Read More: NCERT Solutions For Class 11 Biology Animal Kingdom
| Table of Content |
Key Terms: Turtles, Tortoises, Habitat, Shell, Reptile, Testudines, Predators, Species, Galapagos Tortoises, Ectotherms
What are Turtles?
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Turtles are very old and ancient reptile species commonly found in America and Africa. They are mostly found in aquatic habitats. At the same time, there are several turtles that spent the majority of their lifespan on land. They could be found in marine or freshwater habitats.
- Turtles belong to the order Testudines.
- They are studied under as many as 365 different varieties.
- Turtles are also referred to as ‘Ectotherms’ or cold-blooded animals.
- They are mainly classified into two groups, Pleurodira and Cryptodira.
- Turtles have a large protective shell made of cartilage and bones, known as a Carapace and Plastron.
- It is commonly observed in brown, olive, black, or green colors.
- The shell is streamlined and flat. It could be irregular with several spots.
- Turtles are mostly omnivorous species, i.e, they feed on both plants and animals.
- Turtles living on the land are found to be plant eaters while the aquatic species are carnivores.
Turtles
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| Sea Turtle Life Cycle | Difference Between Reptiles and Amphibians | Snake Life Cycle |
| Classification of Animal Kingdom | Amphibia | Predation |
What are Tortoises?
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Tortoises are reptiles belonging to the order of Testudines. They are found associated with terrestrial habitats. The largest tortoises are the Galapagos Tortoises which have a life span of up to 150 years.
- They belong to the non-swimming species of Testudines.
- 15 different genera of tortoises have been discovered to date.
- Almost 49 species of tortoises are noticed as of now.
- Some of the common species are the Gopher Tortoise, Madagascar Tortoise, and Spider Tortoise.
- The shells of tortoises are much bigger and harder than turtles.
- They are also domed or sometimes nearly spherical in shape.
- The shell has concentric rings which are used for age determination.
- They are mainly herbivorous animals.
- They have the longest life spans than other living animals.
Tortoises can be found in several terrestrial habitats like the grasslands, evergreen forests, mountains, and deserts of North America, sub-Saharan Africa, and certain island groups. In fact, they are observed in all continents except Antarctica and Australia.
Tortoises
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Difference between Turtles and Tortoises
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Turtles and Tortoises are two reptile species that are commonly mistaken to be the same organism. However, both of them have various adaptations that clearly distinguish them from each other. The major critical difference between a turtle and a tortoise is the Habitat. Turtles are aquatic while tortoises are terrestrial reptiles.
Difference Between Turtles and Tortoises is listed as follows:
| Basis of Comparison | Turtles | Tortoises |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Aquatic, Semi-aquatic, and Terrestrial Habitat | Terrestrial Habitat |
| Habitat subtype | They are found in Freshwater and Marine Habitats. | They are found in a variety of habitats from Dry Deserts to Wet Lands and Tropical Forests. |
| Regions of Occurrence | Africa and America | Asia, Africa, and America |
| Body Weight | Larger body; Weigh almost 300-700 kg | Smaller than Turtles, Weigh almost 250 kg on average |
| Shells | Their shells are lightweight and thin. | Their shells are larger, heavier, and rounded. |
| Structure of Shells | Their shells are made up of a number of plates fused together. | Their shells are in a form of a single solid piece. |
| Shape of Shells | Streamlined, Flat Shells | Dome-shaped or Nearly Spherical Shells |
| Food habits | They are Omnivores. | Tortoises are basically herbivores, but some might eat other smaller animals. |
| Head | Longer Neck and Pointed Head | Shorter Neck |
| Limbs | Back feet are webbed with long claws, and front feet are paddle-shaped. | They have short and sturdy feet and bent larger legs. |
| Birth | Hatchlings often stay in the nest on their own for 3-4 months after birth. | Hatchlings immediately move from the nest to their mother's burrow after birth. |
| Lifespan | They can live an average of 20-40 years. | They can live for an average of 80-150 years. |
| Examples | Leatherback Turtles, Green Turtles | Leopard Tortoises, and Galapagos Tortoises |
Thus, Habitat is considered to be the major difference between turtles and tortoises. If considered from a strictly biological perspective, all tortoises are terrestrial. The majority of the turtles are aquatic or at least semi-aquatic. Turtles and tortoises share a common ancestor, thus, they seem to share common physical characteristics.
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Things to Remember
- Turtles and Tortoises are two reptiles that belong to the same order Testudines.
- They look quite similar in appearance and are often mistaken to be the same animal.
- The major difference between Turtles and Tortoises is their habitat and shell structure.
- Turtles are mainly aquatic animals though some could be terrestrial, while tortoises are strictly terrestrial.
- Turtles have a smaller, streamlined shell while tortoises have larger shells that are done or almost spherical shaped.
- Tortoises can live up to 150 years, and are the longest-living species but turtles have an average life span of 20-40 years.
- Turtles are common in America and Africa while tortoises can be found in Africa, America, and Asia.
Read More: Animal Kingdom Important Questions
Previous Years’ Questions
- In which of the following animals, haemocyanin pigment… (NEET - 2001)
- In Hydra, waste material of food digestion and nitrogenous… (NEET - 2001)
- Aristotle's lantern occurs in class… (NEET - 1992)
- Adult Culex and Anopheles can be distinguished with the help of… (NEET - 1992)
- Transfer of Taenia to secondary host occurs as… (NEET - 1989)
- Fish which can be used in biological control of mosquitoes… (NEET - 1989)
- An insect regarded as the greatest mechanical carrier of diseases is… (NEET - 1991)
- Classification of Porifera is based on… (NEET - 1991)
- Which of the following organisms possesses characteristics… (NEET - 1995)
- The organisms attached to the substratum, generally, possess… (NEET - 1995)
Sample Questions
Ques. State the Difference Between Turtles and Tortoises. (5 Marks)
Ans. The difference Between Turtles and Tortoises is tabulated below:
| Turtles | Tortoises |
|---|---|
| Turtles are primarily aquatic reptiles. | Tortoises are primarily terrestrial reptiles. |
| They are usually omnivores except for a few terrestrial turtles. | Tortoises are primarily herbivores except a few that can feed on small animals. |
| Turtles have lighter shells on their backs. | Tortoises have much heavier and more robust shells. |
| Not all turtles are considered to be Tortoises. | All tortoises are considered to be turtles, as they belong to the order of Testudines. |
| Turtles have a shorter life span of 20-40 years. | Tortoises have a longer life span of 80-150 years |
Ques. Are Turtles and Tortoises the same? (3 Marks)
Ans. No, Turtles and Tortoises are reptile species that look similar superficially but have several different characteristics that distinguish them from each other. The main difference between turtles and tortoises is that turtles are aquatic species while tortoises are terrestrial organisms. The shells of the turtles are also different from the tortoises in order to allow them to move better in water.
Ques. Are there any Similarities between Turtles and Tortoises? (3 Marks)
Ans. Turtles and Tortoises belong to the same order, Testudines. There are several similarities between Turtles and Tortoises due to which they are often understood to be the same. Here are a few similarities between Turtles and Tortoises:
- They have a protective shell for defense from predators.
- They both are also cold-blooded animals with similar body structures.
- Both turtles and tortoises lay eggs.
Ques. What is the purpose of shells found in Turtles and Tortoises? (2 Marks)
Ans. The shells on the back of turtles and tortoises have a protective function and thus are very hard to break. Turtles and Tortoises withdraw their limbs and head inside the shell when in need of defense against predators, which saves them from predators.
Ques. What is the structure of a Turtle Shell? (3 Marks)
Ans. Turtle Shell is a hard bony structure for the protection of their head and limbs from predators.
- It is made from bones, carapace, and plastron.
- The shell is made up of 60 bones and cartilage.
- It is formed from the ribs which are broadened and flattened to fuse into bony plates and skin. Thus, the shells form the turtle's vertebra.
Ques. What is the lifespan of Turtles and Tortoises? (2 Marks)
Ans. Tortoises have the longest lifespan of all species. They can live up to 120 years. The longest-living tortoise is the Galapagos Tortoise. On the other hand, turtles can live up to 20-40 years.
Ques. State a few species of Turtles and Tortoises. (3 Marks)
Ans. Here are a few species of Turtles and Tortoises:
Turtles
- Olive Ridley Turtle
- Green Turtle
- Leatherback Turtle
Tortoises
- Leopard Tortoise
- Aldabra Giant Tortoise
- Gopher Tortoise
Ques. Why do Turtles have streamlined and lighter shells than Tortoises? (2 Marks)
Ans. Shell is one of the most important differences between turtles and tortoises. Turtles have streamlined and lighter shells when compared to tortoises as they are more found in aquatic habitats. The lighter shell allows them to move better through the water.
Ques. What is the scientific classification of Turtles and Tortoises? (2 Marks)
Ans. Turtles and tortoises share the following scientific classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Testudines
Ques. Are Turtles protected species? (2 Marks)
Ans. Turtles are considered an endangered species. There have been many steps taken for the conservation of various kinds of turtles. This came as a result of a sudden decline in several exotic species. The conservation of the Galapagos Tortoise is an example of the successful conservation and breeding of turtles.
Ques. Where are Turtles and Tortoises found in the world? (2 Marks)
Ans. Turtles are found in the continents of Asia and America. On the other hand, tortoises survive in a wide diversity of habitats on almost all continents except Antarctica and Australia. They are commonly found in Asia, America, and Africa.
Ques. How are the food habits of Turtles and Tortoises different? (2 Marks)
Ans. Turtles are mostly omnivorous. The land-dwelling turtles are herbivores while those in aquatic habitats are carnivores feeding on mollusks, shellfish, etc. On the other hand, Tortoises are generally herbivorous. However, some species are found to eat other smaller animals.
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