Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Because of a comment in response to my post below, I'm wondering what IS the difference between turtles and tortoises. I used to think it was the oversimplified difference between aquatic (turtle) vs. not (tortoise). But I don't think that's really the determining factor. I looked it up online and the only difference I came across was that supposedly turtles cannot retract their heads into their shells -- needless to say, I know that's not always true since box turtles are obviously capable of doing so.
Can someone please explain to me the distinguishing factors between the two? Or is there really no difference but in how we have decided to name one species vs. another?
Thank you very much.
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Edward
Carpe diem

If you get a definitive answer please pass it along.
(I'd also question the objectivity of the person who has a definitive answer)
It might be interesting to note that in Australia they have tortoises... well... not really but that's what they call them.
I guess you can generalize that turtles are more water based and tortoises are not...
or you can say that Tortoises belong to the family Testudinidae and the rest are turtles. That might work.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

That turtles have webbing between their toes and tortoises do not. It holds true for box turtles, but I do not know if there are species that it doesn't hold true for.
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Stacey

n/p
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Edward
Carpe diem