Whats the difference between a Turtle and a Tortoise?
“That’s probably the question we hear most often,” said Ginny. “Turtles and tortoises belong to the same family, but the tortoise is like us. It lives on land and uses water for drinking or bathing. Tortoises also have a larger, domed shell and thicker, more stocky legs than turtles.” On the other hand (or foot or paw or whatever you want to call it), Ginny said, turtles generally have smaller legs and spend a lot of time swimming. “They’re able to travel on land … but prefer the water. Their shell is much flatter than a tortoise shell, making it more streamlined for swimming.” One thing to keep in mind if you’re considering tortoise adoption is that some species hibernate through the winter, and that requires special care. “For hibernating tortoises, we recommend a steady temperature of about 55 degrees so they don’t warm up during the day or cool down at night,” said Ginny. “Put the tortoise in a hibernating box and use a thermometer to monitor the temperature.
