Are Turtles And Tortoises Related?

Tortoises and turtles are reptiles belonging to the class Sauropsida and the order Testudines. They along with terrapins are the only chelonians and are closely related in many ways being the only reptiles with an outer shell and somewhat similar body structure. Both tortoises and turtles are oviparous egg laying reptiles and lay their eggs in burrows on land.

The main distinguishing features between tortoises and turtles are that most tortoises are land dwelling or amphibious in nature while turtles are predominantly aquatic creatures. Their body structure has accordingly evolved to suit their lifestyle; tortoises have limbs that are better suited for moving on land while most turtles have flat webbed legs with claws or flippers for easy locomotion through water.

The tortoise has a larger and dome shaped shell as compared to the turtle which has a flat shell. The diet of tortoises and turtles is different with tortoises being mostly herbivorous while the majority of turtles especially sea turtles being omnivorous or carnivorous with fish being their principal food.

Add Comment

Report