Tortoises have more rounded and domed shells where turtles have thinner, more water-dynamic shells. ... 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.

What is the relationship between turtle and tortoise?

Tortoises and turtles are both reptiles from the order of Testudines, but in different classification families. The major difference between the two is that tortoises dwell on land, while turtles live in the water some or nearly all of the time.

Can tortoises and turtles be together?

While your pet turtle is content to live alone, some pet turtles cohabitate well and thrive with others. While you should generally house tortoises with members of their own species, and a few aggressive species cannot have any cage mates, many aquatic and terrestrial turtle species cohabitate well.