Turtles vs tortoises prepared by ALI HASSAN VIRK ,This wILL BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR SCIENCE STUDENTS SPECIALLY FOR ,ZOOLOGY ,BOTANY ,ANATOMY,AND FOR RESEARCHERS WHO JUST WANT TO EXCEL QUICKLY IN THEIR RELATIVE FIELD....

2. Turtle VS TORTOISE
ALI HASSAN VIRK

3. 72

4. Turtles
Turtle are reptile of the order Testudines
characterized by a special bony or cartilaginous
shell covered from their ribs and acting as a shield.
Turtle refers to the order as a whole or to fresh
water and sea dwelling testudines.

5. CLASSIFICATION
Phylum Chordata
Family Numerous
families, including
Carettochelyidae (pig-
nosed turtle),
Dermatemydidae
(Central American river
turtles), Emydidae
(pond/water turtles), etc
Order Testudines
▪ Class Reptilia

6. Characteristics
Turtle are
mostly found
in America
and Africa.
Turtles have a
hard shell
that protects
them like a
shield, this
upper shell is
called a
carapace.
Turtles also
have a lower
shell called a
plastron.
Many turtle
species can
hide their
heads inside
their shells
when
attacked by
predators.
Turtles have
existed for
around 215
million years

8. Trotoises
Trotoises are
found in Asia
and Africa but
found in south
africa as well.
Phylum
Chordata
Family
Testudinidae
Order
Testudines
Class Reptilia

9. Characteristics
They are particularly distinguished from
other turtles by being land dwelling while
many other turtle species are at least partly
aquatic. Like other turtles tortoises have a
shell to protect from predation and other
threats Mostly large dome shaped shells
(with bumps on the top in some species) The
shells are heavier. Tortoise hatchlings move
from their nest to the mothers burrow soon
after birth. Feet are short and sturdy with
bent legs.

10. Similarities
Tortoise and turtle are both reptiles
from the order of Testudines, but in
different classification families.
The bodies of tortoises and turtles are
both shielded by a shell, the upper
part of which is called carapace, with
the lower portion called a plastron
The carapace and the plastron are
attached by the bridge, which means
that through the head and limbs of a
turtle and tortoise may be withdrawn
from the shell, the whole body can
never be totally detached from it.

11. COMPARISON
Tortoise
A tortoise is a reptile from the Chelonian family
and dwells well on land. ▪ Found mostly in Asia
and Africa but some species exist in Americas
too. ▪ Mostly large dome shaped shells (with
bumps on the top in some species). ▪ The shells
are heavier. ▪ Feet are short and sturdy with
bent legs. ▪ Most are herbivores, but some
species prefer live food. ▪ Tortoise hatchlings
move from their nest to the mothers burrow
soon after birth. ▪ 80-150 years. The longest
living Tortoise is 326 years.
Turtle
A Turtle is a reptile from the Chelonian
family and dwells well in the water. ▪
Africa and America. ▪ Mostly flat
streamlined shells. ▪ Generally light
weight shell. ▪ Webbed feet with long
claws. ▪ Eats fruits, veggies, leafy
vegetation and meat, hence they are
omnivores. ▪ Turtle hatchlings stay in
their nest on their own for 90-120 days. ▪
20-40 years. The oldest was 86 years

12. Distribution
Found mostly in Africa and
Asia but some species exist in
Americas too.
Africa and America

13. Weight
of the
shell
The
shells are
heavier.
Generally
light
weight
shell

15. HABITAT
Tortoises
Tortoises live on land.
They need a terrarium of at
least 40 gallons. Like
turtles, tortoises also need 12
hours of “daylight”
but should not be kept in the
direct sun. A UVA/UVB bulb will
simulate the light they need for
their bones and shells.
TURTLE
Spends most of its life in the water.
Turtles tend to have webbed feet for
swimming. Sea turtles (Cheloniidae
family) are especially adapted for an
acquatic life, with long feet that form
flippers and a streamlined body shape.
They rarely leave the ocean, except
when the females come ashore to lay
their eggs, although some species, such
as the green sea turtle, do come out on
reefs and beaches to bask.

16. DIFFERENCES
A turtle has a flat, streamlined
shell and limbs that are quite
similar to a tortoise's but the
turtle's feet are webbed and
have long claws which provide a
good grip upon floating logs
and help the reptile climb onto
riverbanks
Some turtles might even have
flippers as is the case for the
pignosed turtle.
A tortoise has a
dome shaped
shell and short
and sturdy feet.
Its legs are bent
instead of being
straight and
directly under the
body

17. Reproduction of Turtles vs. Tortoises
The eggs from a turtle
are somewhat soft and
leather-like, similar to
the eggs produced by
other reptiles. Turtle
hatchlings stay in their
nest on their own for
90-120 days.
Female tortoises dig
burrows in which they
lay anywhere from 2 to
12 eggs. Hatchlings
take approximately 90-
120 days to incubate
within the ping-pong-
ball sized eggs.

19. Tortoise species in
Pakistan
• ▪ Pakistan has eight species of freshwater
turtles all of which can be found in Sindh
and Balochistan. Based on the absence
or presence of horny scutes or scales on
their carapace freshwater turtles have
been divided into two categories.
• Common name
• The Indian star tortoise
• It is rare in sindh.
• The Afghan tortoise
• It is still present in many areas of
Bolachistan.
• Scientific name
• Geochelone elegans
• Testudo horsfieldii
.

21. Turtle species in Pakistan
• Two types of turtle species in Pakistan:
• 1. Fresh water turtle
• 2. Marine water turtle
• Turtles are also divided on the basis of shells:
• 1. Soft shell turtles
• 2. Hard shell turtles

22. Fresh water turtles
Scientific name
Pangshura
tectum
Pangshura
smithii
Chitra
indica
Nilssonia
gangeticus
Nilssonia
hurum
Hardella
thurjii
Lissemys
punctata
Common name
Spotted pond
turtle
Brown
roofed turtle
Soft shell
turtle
Indian soft
shell turtle
Peacock soft
shell turtle
Crowned
river turtle
Indian flap
shell turtle

23. Marine turtles
Scientific name Common name
Chelonia
mydas
Lepidochelys
olivacea
Eretmochelys
imbricata
Caretta
caretta
Dermochelys
coriacea
Green turtle
Olive ridley
turtle
Hawksbill
turtle
Loggerhead
turtle
Leatherback
turtle

24. Hard shell turtles