What Is the Difference Between a Turtle and a Tortoise?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 06, 2020

The difference between a turtle and a tortoise is that a turtle lives in or near water, and a tortoise is more terrestrial. Turtles tend to have webbed feet, and marine turtles have flippers. The feet of a tortoise are like stumps.

Marine turtles only leave the water to come ashore and lay eggs. Freshwater turtles climb out of the water to bask in the sun. When it ‘s very cold, they might dig a burrow and remain there until the warm weather returns.

Tortoises prefer warm climates and are often found in deserts. They retreat into their burrows when it becomes too hot.