Tortises and Turtles

According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica (see here), all tortoises are in fact turtles as they belong to the order Testudines or Chelonia - reptiles having bodies encased in a bony shell - but not all turtles are tortoises.

​Tortoises are exclusively land creatures. They can live in a variety of habitats, from deserts to wet tropical forests. Tortoises drink water and occasionally bath in it, but otherwise have little to do with water.

Tortoises also have unique hind-limb anatomy made up of columnar hind limbs and hind feet. Their forelimbs are not flipper-like, and their hind feet are not webbed. Each digit in their forefeet and hind feet contains two or fewer phalanges.
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Tortoises are generally vegetarians, while other turtles are omnivorous.

Tortoises

Aldabra Giant Tortoises. Singapore Zoo

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Aldabra Giant Tortoise. Singapore Zoo

Aldabra Giant Tortoise. Singapore Zoo

Aldabra Giant Tortoise. Singapore Zoo

Aldabra Giant Tortoise. Melbourne Zoo.

Aldabra Giant Tortoise. Melbourne Zoo.

Aldabra Giant Tortoise. Melbourne Zoo.

Aldabra Giant Tortoise. Melbourne Zoo.

Aldabra Giant Tortoise. Melbourne Zoo.

Western Hermann's Tortoise. (T hermanni hermanni). Melbourne Zoo.

Western Hermann's Tortoise. (T hermanni hermanni). Melbourne Zoo.

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Turtles

Turtle, The Briars Visitor Centre, Mount Martha, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

Turtle

Jurong Lake Gardens - Singapore Japanese and Chinese Gardens. Turtle.

Baby turtle sunning on a rock. Peterson Creek Walking Track, Yungaburra, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia.

Red-eared Slider or Elegant Slider (2), Singapore Botanical Gardens

Red-eared Slider or Elegant Slider (1), Singapore Botanical Gardens

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