Differences between turtles and tortoises.
- Tortoises have more rounded and domed shells where turtles have thinner, more water-dynamic shells. Turtle shells are more streamlined to aid in swimming.
- One major key difference is that tortoises spend most of their time on land and turtles are adapted for life spent in water.
- Tortoises have club-like forelegs and ‘elephantine’ hind legs. Because tortoises are often larger and heavier, their elephantine hind legs help them move around and carry the extra weight!
- Turtles will have more flippers like legs, or webbed feet to make it easier to cruise through the water.
There are 29 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises currently reported in India.
- Batagur kachuga
- Batagur baska
- Batagur dhongoka
- Melanochelys tricarinata
- Melanochelys trijuga
- Cuora mouhotii
- Cuora amboinensis
- Vijayachelys silvatica
- Hardella thurjii
- Geoclemys hamiltonii
- Pangshura tentoria
- Pangshura tecta
- Pangshura sylhetensis Jerdon
- Pangshura smithii
- Cyclemys gemeli Fritz, Guicking, Auer, Sommer, Wink & Hundsdörfer
- Morenia petersi
- Lissemys punctata
- Pelochelys cantorii Gray
- Amyda cartilaginea
- Nilssonia gangetica
- Nilssonia hurum
- Nilssonia leithii
- Nilssonia nigricans
- Chitra indica
- Geochelone elegans
- Indotestudo travancorica
- Indotestudo elongata
- Manouria impressa
- Manouria emys
