Is it a Tortoise or a Turtle

Tortoises and called Turtles, and Turtles are called Tortoises. It's all very confusing. In general though, tortoises are land dwellers and turtles are water dwellers. Turtles are also called terrapins, and both are called Chelonians by vets.

ENDANGERED

Most species of tortoise and turtle are endangered and protected.
Tortoises and turtles are reptiles, they are cold-blooded, have four limbs and a tail and are covered top and bottom by a bony shell. They can mostly withdraw their head, tail and limbs into the shell when they are in danger.
The upper shell is called the caraspace and the lower shell the plastron. The two shells are joined by two bony bridges on the sides.

Tortoises and turtles don't have teeth, but beaks similar to birds which are very sharp and serrated.

SIZE VARIATIONS

Tortoise and turtle sizes vary enormously depending on the species, ranging from a few centimetres to about 2 metres long. They are reclusive creatures.

Land tortoises can't swim, so if your lucky to have one for a pet, don't put him or her in deep water becaused your pet will drown.

There are about 300 species of turtles and tortoises in the world, about 45 species are found in the U.S.A. and Canada,0 in Britain, and about 16 species in Australia (all water dwelling). Most found in Europe and U.S. are river varieties.
Tortoises are also found in desert regions in North America, Africa and Asia. Some of the desert species hibernate if it gets too hot and dry.

The biggest turtles are the sea turtles called the Leatherback. These turtles can have a shell length of 2m. Green sea turtles grow to about 1m in length.

DIFFERENCES

Turtles can live in ponds, fresh water rivers and oceans. Tortoises have claws, turtles have webbed feet and short claws, Sea turtles have flipper like paddles and struggle to move on the beach where they dig nests and lay eggs.

Females are larger than males with a small tail dropped down, males have a larger tail, pulled up and to the side of the rear shell.

WHAT DO THEY EAT?

Most land tortoises are herbivores but they do eat grubs and insect larvae when they are babies.
Turtles that live in water will eat small shellfish, fish and seaweed.
Snapping turtles are quite aggressive and are carnivores, biting anything in close range, and will eat frogs and fish.
Tortoises and turtles have highly developed senses with good eyesight and sense of smell. They don't have external ears but a sense of vibration.

BREEDING

Depending on the species, tortoises reach breeding age between 3yrs and 10yrs old. They mate once per year. Turtles and tortoises hatch from eggs. They lay between two and hundreds depending on the species. They lay at night usually, and cover the eggs with sand, foliage or dirt. The eggs are then left unattended and hatch between 60 to 120 days.

Fully formed hatchlings break out using an egg-tooth. Then the hatchling digs to the surface and has to learn to survive on its own. The hatchling has an embryonic sac which is used for nutrition at first until it's strong enough to find food. Babies will eat worms and larvae even though they grow to be herbivores.

THE BIGGIES

The largest land tortoises are the Galapagos Tortoises and the Seychelle Island tortoises.
The Galapagos and Seychelle Islands are in the Indian Ocean.

The Leatherback Turtle is the largest turtle and is ocean dwelling.

THE LITTLIES

The smallest turtle is the speckled padloper from South Africa.The North American painted turtle is a popular pet and doesn't grow too big. The hinge-backed tortoise of Africa is also small.

DANGERS FOR TURTLES AND TORTOISES

Land development equals destruction of habitat.

Pollution and lighting from beachside hotels. The lights confuse turtles that use the moonlight to lay their eggs on the beach.

Plastic bags floating in the ocean. Turtles eat them because they think they are jellyfish, and they choke on them.

Discarded cigarette butts, they get eaten and the animal gets sick.

CARING FOR PET LAND TORTOISES

Land tortoises are not native to Australia and it is illegal to own one. They are protected and endangered. You can own a water dwelling turtle in Australia if its over a certain size.(check with State authorities).

As a child living in England, I owned a pet baby tortoise. I was six years old at the time and living in a flat. I took my tortoise down to the playground to get some sun. Older boys surrounded me and took my tortoise off me, threw him repeatedly against the brick wall of the railway, and when he was dead they gave him back to me. I remember it all so clearly.

I live in Australia now, and can't have a tortoise but I have lots of pretend ones.

If you live elsewhere and are able to have a pet tortoise, you are very lucky and privileged. The most important thing to do, is to research the species of tortoise that you are going to buy.
This is VERY important, becaused different species have different needs.

All tortoises need space to roam, light, heat, air moisture and special diet requirements. In general they eat grass, weeds, leafy greens, flowers, alfalfa, clover, dandelions and fruit as a treat. They need a varied diet. Don't give your tortoise dog or cat food as this has too much protein and will make your tortoise sick. Turtle and tortoise food is available from some pet suppliers.

Tortoises also need reptile multivitamins that include calcium and D3. Try to keep plants pesticide and insecticide free. Provide a long shallow dish of clean water no deeper than the tortoises chin. Change this water every day and keep it clean. Outside enclosures need to be safe from predators and shelter provided (a dog kennel will do). Sunny and shaded areas are needed and a large shallow dish of water that the tortoise can soak in.

Babies get distressed easily, so avoid handling too much. Supervise young children so that the tortoise isn't dropped, thrown or flipped over on the back.
Hand feeding and petting gently will keep your tortoise happy. Always pick up by the sides and support the underneath.
Tortoises can live a very long time, over 100 years.
In China, Tortoises are a symbol of longevity.

The longest living Tortoise was Tui Malila, given to the Tongan Royal Family by Captain James Cook in 1777. Tui Malila died on May 19, 1965 aged 188 years.

Other Species:
Leopard Tortoise
Hermann's Tortoise
Harsfield's/Russian Tortoise
Redfooted Tortoise

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