What is the difference between a tortoise and a sea turtle?

Although turtles and sea turtles are sometimes used interchangeably in everyday language, they are actually two very different creatures. Here are the differences between them:

1. Habitat:

• Turtles (tortoises) live on land or in fresh water. They have the ability to swim in water, but usually feed and move around on land.

• Sea turtles are ocean-dwelling reptiles that live and breed in the ocean, usually only coming ashore during the breeding season.

2. shape:

• Turtles usually have a relatively disc-shaped shell with a relatively slippery surface.

• Turtles generally have a more streamlined body shape that is better adapted in the water, and their forelimbs often turn into short, flattened wings to aid in swimming.

3. Nutrition:

• Turtles are omnivores and feed on plants, aquatic plants, insects and small vertebrates.

• Sea turtles mainly feed on seaweed, aquatic plants and invertebrates, although different species of sea turtles may have different dietary habits.

4. Reproduction:

• Turtles usually choose sandy beaches or the ground on land to lay their eggs.

• Sea turtles usually dig holes on beaches to lay their eggs.

5. Conservation status:

• Overall, the turtle population is relatively stable and well protected.

• Many sea turtle populations are under pressure from environmental pollution, fishing, and habitat loss, and some species are endangered as a result.

In terms of biological classification, tortoises and sea turtles both belong to the phylum Reptiles, but they belong to the family Chelonidae and Turtleidae respectively. The two species have significant differences in ecological roles, behaviors, life histories, and adaptations to their environments.

animal tags： turtle sea turtle