Re: Technically a tortoise though called turtle

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Posted by nathan on March 05, 2002 at 08:25:28:

In Reply to: Re: Technically a tortoise though called turtle posted by Christine on March 04, 2002 at 11:50:09:

Actually, this is not correct. I don't know who told you so, but they are not tortoises. Regionally they may be called different things, some areas call all chelonians "terrapins" some call them all "turtle" and some call them all "tortoise". Structurally, and hence "technically" a box turtle is a turtle in the relation to aquatic turtles rather than to tortoises. They posses some foot webbing, feet that are not the stumped feet, keels, and then the affinity to water which far surpasses any tortoise species.

In north america, we would call them turtles, In some other countries it might be regionally that they refer to them as tortoise, and could be correct in that dialect/language, as well as them being called terrapins in others.

: No, technically the box turtle is a tortoise. It is a land species. Because they are so common, people have given them the title of turtle.
: But herptologists from CITES claim that technically speaking, they are tortoises.
: Turtles are acquatic...red eared sliders, painters, etc

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: Actually, this is not correct. I don't know who told you so, but they are not tortoises. Regionally they may be called different things, some areas call all chelonians "terrapins" some call them all "turtle" and some call them all "tortoise". Structurally, and hence "technically" a box turtle is a turtle in the relation to aquatic turtles rather than to tortoises. They posses some foot webbing, feet that are not the stumped feet, keels, and then the affinity to water which far surpasses any tortoise species. : In north america, we would call them turtles, In some other countries it might be regionally that they refer to them as tortoise, and could be correct in that dialect/language, as well as them being called terrapins in others. : : No, technically the box turtle is a tortoise. It is a land species. Because they are so common, people have given them the title of turtle. : : But herptologists from CITES claim that technically speaking, they are tortoises. : : Turtles are acquatic...red eared sliders, painters, etc

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