Turtles and tortoises are both reptiles with shells, so what exactly are their differences?
Turtles and tortoises both belong to the reptile family of shelled creatures, but they’re far from identical. So how can you tell them apart?
“All tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises,” explained Sydnee Fenn, a reptile keeper at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. A key distinction lies in where they live: most turtles spend a lot of their lives in water, while tortoises are strictly land-dwellers.
This habitat difference shapes many of their physical traits. Aquatic turtles usually have flatter shells, which streamline them for swimming in lakes, rivers, and oceans. Tortoises, on the other hand, have rounded, domed shells. This dome design helps them flip back over if they tumble onto their backs and provides extra space inside to retract their limbs.
There are exceptions. Take the pancake tortoise from Africa: unlike other tortoises, it has a flat, flexible shell that lets it squeeze into rock crevices for protection.
Leg and foot structure also differs. Turtles that split time between water and land often have webbed feet to aid swimming and walking, while fully aquatic turtles, like sea turtles, have flippers. Tortoises typically have thick, stumpy legs with round, sturdy feet, ideal for carrying their heavy shells over land. Desert tortoises, for instance, have wide feet to help them traverse sand, much like camels.
Diet is another distinction. Most turtles are omnivores, able to hunt or forage in water, while tortoises are mostly herbivores, grazing on plants at their slow pace. That said, tortoises aren’t strictly vegetarian—they might eat insects or carrion if the opportunity arises. Conversely, some turtles, such as green sea turtles, primarily eat plants.
Geography plays a role, too. Tortoises inhabit every continent except Australia and Antarctica, favoring warm regions like deserts and jungles. Turtles are found everywhere except Antarctica, with sea turtles roaming oceans worldwide. Their aquatic lifestyles allow them to survive in cooler climates, diving to deeper, warmer waters in winter and even breathing through their cloacas while submerged.
Ultimately, the differences between turtles and tortoises—shell shape, limbs, diet, and habitat—reflect millions of years of evolution, each perfectly suited to their environment.