Turtle vs Tortoise

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Tortoises and turtles are both reptiles from the order of Testudines, but in different classification families. The major difference between the two is that tortoises dwell on land, while turtles live in the water some or nearly all of the time.

The bodies of tortoises and turtles are both shielded by a shell, the upper part of which is called carapace, with the lower portion called a plastron. The carapace and the plastron are attached by a bridge, which means that though the head and limbs of a turtle or tortoise may be withdrawn from the shell, the whole body can never be totally detached from it. These reptiles are generally reclusive and shy in nature.

Comparison chart

Tortoise versus Turtle comparison chart
	Tortoise	Turtle

Definition	Tortoises are a family (Testudinidae) of land-dwelling reptiles in the order Testudines. All tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises. They are adapted for terrestrial life.	Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines, characterized by a shell developed mainly from their ribs. The term encompasses all members of the order, including tortoises, terrapins, and sea turtles.
Kingdom	Animalia	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata	Chordata
Class	Reptilia	Reptilia
Order	Testudines	Testudines
Family	Testudinidae (tortoises only)	Multiple families including Testudinidae (tortoises), Cheloniidae (sea turtles), Emydidae (pond turtles), Trionychidae (softshell turtles), and others
Habitat	Exclusively terrestrial (land-dwelling). Found in deserts, grasslands, forests, and scrublands.	Aquatic or semi-aquatic. Includes freshwater turtles (ponds, rivers, lakes), sea turtles (oceans), and some terrestrial species (tortoises). Most require access to water.
Distribution	Found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Prevalent in Africa, Asia, southern Europe, and the Americas.	Found on all continents except Antarctica. Wide distribution in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments globally.
Shell Shape	Heavy, high-domed shells designed for protection from predators on land. Shell cannot retract completely into body cavity.	Varies by species. Aquatic turtles have flatter, more streamlined shells for swimming. Sea turtles have lighter, hydrodynamic shells. Many can retract head and limbs completely.
Shell Weight	Heavy shells, thick and sturdy for terrestrial defense.	Generally lighter shells than tortoises, especially in aquatic species. Sea turtles have relatively lightweight shells for buoyancy.
Limbs	Short, sturdy, columnar legs like elephants. Feet are club-shaped and stumpy with no webbing. Adapted for walking on land.	Varies widely. Freshwater turtles have webbed feet with claws for swimming and climbing. Sea turtles have flippers. Semi-aquatic species have partially webbed feet.
Swimming Ability	Cannot swim. Tortoises will sink and can drown if placed in deep water. Some may float temporarily but cannot propel themselves.	Most are excellent swimmers. Sea turtles are highly adapted for ocean life. Freshwater turtles are strong swimmers but also spend time on land.
Diet	Primarily herbivorous. Diet consists of grasses, leafy greens, flowers, cacti, and succulents. Some species occasionally eat carrion or insects.	Varies by species. Many are omnivorous, eating plants, insects, fish, jellyfish, and crustaceans. Sea turtles range from herbivorous (green turtles) to carnivorous (leatherbacks eating jellyfish).
Lifespan	Very long-lived, typically 80-150 years in the wild. Giant tortoises can exceed 150 years. Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, is over 190 years old (born c. 1832).	Varies widely by species. Small freshwater turtles: 20-40 years. Larger species: 50-80 years. Sea turtles can live 50-100 years. Box turtles may reach 100 years.
Size	Ranges from small (4-8 inches) to very large. Galápagos and Aldabra giant tortoises can reach 4-5 feet in length and weigh 400-900 pounds.	Highly variable. Small mud turtles (4 inches) to massive leatherback sea turtles (6-7 feet long, up to 2,000 pounds).
Reproduction	Females dig nests in soil and lay 1-30 eggs depending on species. No parental care. Hatchlings are independent immediately and must fend for themselves.	Most lay eggs on land. Sea turtles return to beaches to nest. Clutch sizes vary from 1-2 eggs (some box turtles) to 100+ eggs (sea turtles). No parental care in most species.
Hatchling Behavior	Hatchlings emerge from buried nests and immediately begin foraging independently. No maternal care or guidance.	Varies by species. Sea turtle hatchlings make dangerous journey from nest to ocean. Freshwater turtle hatchlings may overwinter in nest before emerging. All are independent at hatching.
Skin Texture	Dry, thick, and scaly. Well-adapted to retain moisture in arid terrestrial environments.	Varies. Aquatic turtles have smoother, more moist skin adapted for water. Some softshell turtles have leathery skin instead of scutes.
Teeth	No teeth. Have sharp, horny beaks made of keratin for cutting and tearing vegetation. Very strong jaw muscles.	No teeth. Possess beaks made of keratin. Carnivorous species have sharp, powerful beaks for tearing prey. Jaw strength varies by diet.
Breathing	Air-breathing with lungs. Cannot breathe underwater.	Air-breathing with lungs, but many aquatic species can stay submerged for extended periods (hours to months). Some can absorb oxygen through cloacal respiration.
Common Examples	Galápagos tortoise, Aldabra giant tortoise, African spurred tortoise, Russian tortoise, Greek tortoise, desert tortoise, leopard tortoise.	Sea turtles (green, loggerhead, leatherback, hawksbill), red-eared slider, painted turtle, snapping turtle, box turtle, softshell turtle, pond slider.
Speed	Very slow on land. Typical speed is 0.2-0.5 mph. Not built for speed or escaping predators.	Varies. Aquatic turtles are fast swimmers (sea turtles can reach 20 mph). On land, most are slow but faster than tortoises. Snapping turtles can strike quickly.
Conservation Status	Many species are endangered or critically endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, and pet trade. Giant tortoise populations were decimated historically.	Many species threatened or endangered, especially sea turtles (from fishing nets, plastic pollution, beach development) and freshwater turtles (habitat destruction, pollution).
Terminology Note	In American English, 'tortoise' specifically refers to land-dwelling members of family Testudinidae.	In American English, 'turtle' is the broad term for all Testudines. British English uses 'turtle' for sea-dwelling species and 'terrapin' for freshwater species.

Differences in Habitat

Turtles live some or most of the time in the water, while tortoises live on land. Both turtles and tortoises lay eggs on the ground. The mother will dig a burrow and lay two to twelve eggs there. The future hatchlings will stay inside the egg for 90 to 120 days, incubating on their own. Once the incubation process is complete, they dig their way to the surface. Tortoise mothers provide protection to the hatchlings for about 80 days, after which they survive on their own, but turtle hatchlings are on their own from birth.

Differences in Physical Characteristics

Turtles have flat shells and webbed feet with long claws.

A tortoise has a dome-shaped shell and short and sturdy feet. Its legs are bent instead of being straight and directly under the body. A turtle has a flat, streamlined shell and limbs that are quite similar to a tortoise's, but the turtle's feet are webbed and have long claws which provide a good grip upon floating logs and help the reptile climb onto riverbanks. Some turtles might even have flippers, as is the case for the pig-nosed turtle.

Tortoise vs. Turtle Shell

A tortoise shell is shaped like a dome.

The shells that cover the body of these reptiles are very important as they give researchers a fair idea of how these reptiles live. As turtles generally prefer to live in water, the shell of a turtle is flat and streamlined to aid in swimming and diving, while the shell of a tortoise, which lives on land, is rather large and dome-shaped to provide protection from predators. Also, the shell of a tortoise is quite heavy when compared to a turtle's shell, which is lighter to avoid sinking and to increase swimming speed.

Differences in Diet

Most land-based tortoises are herbivores while turtles can be both herbivores and carnivores. This is a video of a turtle eating a pigeon.

Reproduction of Turtles vs. Tortoises

The eggs from a turtle are somewhat soft and leather-like, similar to the eggs produced by other reptiles. Turtle hatchlings stay in their nest on their own for 90-120 days.

Female tortoises dig burrows in which they lay anywhere from 2 to 12 eggs. Hatchlings take approximately 90-120 days to incubate within the ping-pong-ball sized eggs.

Difference in Lifespan

Tortoises can live about as long as humans, around 60-80 years, but some have been known to live for over 150 years. The longest verified tortoise life span was 188 years.

In contrast, the common lifespan of a turtle is about 20-40 years, while sea turtles average 60 to 70 years, with about 40 to 50 years of that required to reach maturity.

While it is sometimes reported that tortoises have lived for over 200 years in captivity, confirming the validity of these claims has been difficult. Most tortoises can live over 100 years in captivity, but living beyond that age requires carefully controlled, nurturing environments.

As Pets

Both are kept as pets, though small turtles are more commonly owned. Tortoises are actually easier to care for, but more expensive to own. Both require owners who are willing and able to keep a very long commitment. As such, neither is recommended as a pet in many cases.

Geographical Distribution

Tortoises are found mostly in Asia and Africa, while turtles are found in Africa and America. Turtles are primarily found in tropical and semi-tropical climates, similar to those preferred by most lizards, as they require warmer external temperatures to maintain proper body warmth. However, some turtles are known for hibernating during colder weather, usually alongside riverbanks. Tortoises are not known for hibernating, as their habitats are almost entirely warm, though some species can greatly limit their metabolism during periods of little or no food and water.