Those species of turtles belonging to the sub-order Cryptodira are typically characterized by the ability to retract their head into the shell, while those belonging to the sub-order Pleurodira are known to fold their unusually long necks and tuck their head into the shell. In American English, on the other hand, the term ‘turtles’ is used as a general term to all the species belonging to this family and the sea-dwelling species are specifically referred to as ‘sea turtles’.īiologically speaking, turtles are reptiles belonging to the order Testudines which is further categorized into two groups (i.e. In British English, the term ‘turtles’ is used for those species which are found in the sea, and ‘tortoises’ for those inhabiting the land. Basically, the usage of these terms differs in accordance to the language in question. With different sources coming up with different explanations, there seems to be some confusion about the usage of terms ‘turtle’ and ‘tortoise’.
Usually, the word ‘turtle’ is used for the members of this reptile family found in the oceans, while those found on the land are termed ‘tortoises’. In what follows, you will find small factual portraits of some turtle species.
Such ignorance about the different types of turtles is surprising, considering that these reptiles have existed on the planet for more than 200 million years – fossil records validate their existence during the Upper Triassic. The fact that there are more than 300 species of turtles may seem unbelievable, as our knowledge about this reptile species is by and large limited to those turtles which are kept as pets.
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