Difference Between a Turtle and a Tortoise

Since our Indian start tortoise, Butti, went missing yesterday we have received a lot of questions about the difference between a tortoise and a turtle. Here are the facts!


Butti, who lives in The Loft at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, went missing on Sunday, March 27, 2011.

--Turtles primarily live in water (fresh water and oceans) and so have webbed front feet or flipper-like fins to make swimming easier.

--Tortoises live almost exclusively on land, so do not have flippers, but normal feet without webbing, often with sharp claws for digging. They only enter water to drink or wash themselves off, and can in fact drown in strong currents. They may be found in arid areas.

--Turtles tend to have flatter shells than tortoises, while tortoises have a more domed shell.

--Turtles can be omnivorous, eating both plants and insects, while tortoises are herbivores, eating only plants and leaves and other vegetation, so they are herbivorous, especially preferring moisture-bearing vegetation.



Butti and brother, Tutti, in their exhibit in the Loft, prior to Butti's disappearance. They are Indian star tortoises.