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| quote: | Originally posted by El Kay Dee
someone tell me the difference between a tortoise and a turtle?(i ask based on some of the comments in that page)
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| quote: | A quick search on wikipedia revealed
In British English it is normal to describe these reptiles as turtles, terrapins, or tortoises depending on whether they live in the sea, in fresh water, or on land, respectively. Thus the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, is considered a turtle [1]; the red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans, a terrapin [2]; and the eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina, a tortoise [3].
In American English it is common to refer to all freshwater chelonians as turtles. Ocean-going species are sea turtles, and members of the family Testudinidae, such as the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), are considered tortoises. "Terrapin" is reserved for the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), a North American species whose name is derived from the Algonquian word for this animal, [4] though the average speaker would simply refer to it as a turtle.
There are no fully-terrestrial forms in Australia; therefore, speakers of Australian English tend to use turtle for marine species and tortoise for freshwater species. This confusing nomenclature is changing as recent publications have used turtle for both marine and freshwater species [5].
The word chelonian, an umbrella term covering turtles, tortoises, and terrapins, is increasingly popular among scientists, conservationists, hobbyists and veterinarians working with these animals. It is based on the Greek word χελώνα ( /çeˈlona/, chelone ), meaning tortoise, and is used, for example, by the Chelonian Research Foundation.
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I'm the trouble starter, fuckin' instigator.
I'm the fear-addicted, danger illustrated.
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