I have much love for all turtles. There are about 360 different species including land-dwelling tortoises and freshwater terrapins. Here a just a few.
The hawksbill sea turtle inhabits the tropical and sub-tropical waters of all of the world’s major oceans. Hawksbills get their name from their unique beak-like mouth, which resembles that of a hawk and is perfect for finding food sources in hard-to-reach cracks and crevices. They are the only species of sea turtle that can survive on a diet consisting mainly of sponges.
The green sea turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle growing to be 3-4 feet long and weighing up to 340 pounds. They are called "green" because of the fat found beneath its carapace (hard upper shell), due to its diet strictly being seagrass, not to the color of its carapace, which is olive to black.
The box turtle is largely characterized by having a shell shaped like a dome, which is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to escape predators.
Box turtles live in a variety of habitats, including shrubby grasslands, marshy meadows, open woodlands, and field forest edges. They are often found near streams or ponds, or areas that have experienced heavy rainfall. While box turtles spend most of their lives on land they do spend time in water for soaking, hunting, or drinking.
The alligator snapping turtle has immensely powerful jaws and distinct ridges on its shell that are similar in appearance to the rough, ridged skin of an alligator. They live in rivers that drain into the Gulf of Mexico. Best known for an adaptation that allows them to lure fish into their mouths, these turtles sit very still deep in water patiently waiting while holding their mouths open and wiggling
the small, reddish, worm-like appendage on its tongue to lure passing fish. And if a fish sees the fake worm and swims in to eat it...Wham!
So what about tortoises?
Tortoises have
dome-shaped shells with high arches, in stark contrast to the streamlined shells often seen in sea-dwelling or semi-aquatic turtles. A tortoise's shell serves both as a means of protection and as a way of aiding in body temperature regulation and hydration. Turtles have webbed feet, while tortoises have stubby feet with sharp claws because they are primarily land dwelling. Tortoises can live in a variety of habitats, from deserts to tropical forests.
The Galapagos giant tortoise is an iconic species. They are the largest living tortoise in the world - adults weigh more than 500 pounds and measure 5 feet long and they have a life expectancy in the wild estimated to be 100–150 years.
Presented for comparison:
And terrapins?
Terrapins are a group of several species of small turtle living in fresh or brackish water.
The beautifully colored diamondback terrapin lives in the brackish coastal swamps of the eastern and southern United States. They have one of the largest ranges of all turtles in North America, stretching as far south as Florida Keys and as far north as Cape Cod.