What are the differences between turtles, tortoises and terrapins?
“All tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises. All terrapins are turtles, but not all turtles are terrapins. Some turtles are just turtles.” The World of Turtles and Crocodiles Turtle – Water-dwelling, without claws and tend to have webbed feet for swimming. Sea turtles are especially adapted for aquatic life with flippers and stream-lined bodies that rarely leave the ocean (except to nest). Other turtles live in fresh water such as ponds and lakes. They swim but can also climb onto the bank or logs to bask in the sun. In the winter they can burrow into the mud, where they go into torpor until warmer weather. Terrapin – Mostly water-dwelling creature with claws. Terrapins spend time in both land and water, but cannot be far from water- along rivers, ponds and lakes- often in brackish, swampy areas. The word terrapin is derived from the Indian word meaning ‘little turtle’. Tortoise – A tortoise is a land-dweller and eats low-growing shrubs. They have round and stumpy for
