Do You Know All The Tortoises Are Turtles But Not All Turtles Are Tortoises?
Ever get curious about what makes turtles and tortoises different? Or are they even share any different traits? If you call every shelled reptile a turtle, then you’re not alone. Most people use “turtle” to refer to reptiles with a shell on their back. Here is how you can identify a difference between a turtle and a tortoise:
Difference Between Turtle and Tortoise
If you find any shelled reptile swimming or diving underwater, that’s probably a turtle. The one major difference between the turtle and tortoise is tortoises can’t swim and, if released into the water, they can drown.
Do you know all the tortoises are turtles but not all turtles are tortoises? Both turtles and tortoises belong to the Testudines or Chelonia. In fact, the turtle is the umbrella term for all 200 species of the Testudines group, including turtles, tortoises, and terrapins. The major trait that makes a tortoise different from a turtle is that a tortoise is a land creature. Tortoises are evolved to survive on land. Their giant legs ain’t capable to help them to swim or dive.
Here are some of the common differences between a turtle and a tortoise:
• Tortoises can’t swim or dive, while turtles spend most of their time in the water.
• Tortoise has a larger shell, bigger legs, and heavier body than turtles. Turtles have more webbed or flipper-like legs to make them more aquatic.
• Tortoises are generally herbivores, while turtles are omnivorous.
• Tortoises have a longer life span than turtles. The oldest known tortoise is Jonathan, living on the island of Saint Helena.
Did you know turtles can breathe through their butt? Read here:
The threat to turtles
Though turtles mostly live underwater hunting for their food, they are not away from human contact. Man-made plastic is killing millions of marine creatures, including turtles. According to research by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), almost 52 percent of all sea turtles have consumed plastics in one way or another. The research suggests just a single piece of plastic is enough to kill a turtle. A piece of plastic has a 22 percent chance of killing a turtle. Scientists have found that 14 plastic items in a turtle’s gut have a 50 percent chance of killing a turtle.
But why do turtles eat plastic?
A study has found that plastic bags look very similar to jellyfish, a favorite sea turtle diet. Not only it does look like a jellyfish, but also it smells like it, which attracts sea turtle and they consume it. Moreover, other plastic items, such as ropes, nets, straws, etc., can kill turtles. Several turtles have been found dead or rescued by conservationists after they tangled in a net or swallow a plastic piece. In a 2015’s video, a team of biologists was seen pulling out a 4 inches long straw from a turtle’s nose.
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