A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper

A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper
Ever wonder what its like to share your world with a bunch of crazy critters? Tune in to find out!

Friday, January 17, 2014

Turtle vs Tortoise

I have been researching tortoises here lately.  Not sure if the zoo is ready to go into the scary realm of reptiles but in the course of investigation I have found some interesting stuff.  For instance - did you know the difference between a Turtle and a Tortoise?  I did not until now.  Check out this cool grid I found:

  Tortoise   Turtle  
Definition A Tortoise is a reptile from the Chelonian family and dwells well on land. A Turtle is a reptile from the Chelonian family and dwells well in the water.
Distribution Found mostly in Asia and Africa but some species exist in Americas too. Africa, America.
Shape of the shell Mostly large dome shaped shells (with bumps on the top in some species). Mostly flat, streamlined shells.
Weight of the shell The shells are heavier. Generally light-weight shell.
Limbs Feet are short and sturdy with bent legs. Webbed feet with long claws.
Diet Most are herbivores, but some species prefer live food. Eats fruits, veggies, leafy vegetation and meat, hence they are omnivores.
Birth Tortoise hatchlings move from their nest to the mothers burrow soon after birth. Turtle hatchlings stay in their nest on their own for 90-120 days.
Family Chelonians Chelonians
Class Reptilia Reptilia
Kingdom Animalia Animalia
Crown Group Chelonia Chelonia
Lifespan 80-150 years. The longest living Tortoise is 326 years. 20-40 years. The oldest was 86 years.
source:  http://www.diffen.com/difference/Tortoise_vs_Turtle


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