A Turtle's Life

Edgar, my babiest niece is the "turtle whisperer".

I will tell her of yer exploits... :wink:

RH

edger, good on ya!

Hate to tell yopu this after all the effort you went to Edgar.


[size=7]Its a tortise[/size]

You call it tortise, I call it buffalo.

Good for getting it out of there, especially if it's a tortise.

Thanks, Edgar.

Wickipedia, the free encyclopedia, begins its article on tortoises, thusly:
"Tortoises or land turtles -"

Using that statement, one might argue that a tortoise is a turtle. We, the plebian Texans, call all of them turtles, in informal usage.

[size=7]Turtles only come on land to lay eggs[/size]


<Runs>

All turtles, tortoises, and terrapins are reptiles.

But the names are also used differently in other parts of the world. For instance, in Australia only sea turtles are called turtles-everything else is called a tortoise! But here are some generally accepted differences between the types of chelonians.

Turtle?- Spends most of its life in the water. Turtles tend to have webbed feet for swimming. Sea turtles (Cheloniidae family) are especially adapted for an aquatic life, with long feet that form flippers and a streamlined body shape. They rarely leave the ocean, except when the females come ashore to lay their eggs. Other turtles live in fresh water, like ponds and lakes. They swim, but they also climb out onto banks, logs, or rocks to bask in the sun. In cold weather, they may burrow into the mud, where they go into torpor until spring brings warm weather again.

Tortoise?- A land-dweller that eats low-growing shrubs, grasses, and even cactus. Tortoises do not have webbed feet. Their feet are round and stumpy for walking on land. Tortoises that live in hot, dry habitats use their strong legs to dig burrows. Then, when it's too hot in the sun, they slip underground.

Terrapin?- Spends its time both on land and in water, but it always lives near water, along rivers, ponds, and lakes. Terrapins are often found in brackish, swampy areas. The word terrapin comes from an Indian word meaning "a little turtle.

My turtle actually had webbed feet. What it was doing in Tomball, I don't know. Could have been brought there as a pet.

Most people I have known couldn't care less about the distinctions. Every four legged turtle-like animal is a turtle around here.

I call 'em turtles...cuter name than tortoise. I think of combs when I think of tortoises. Poor critters.

Call em whatever you want Edgar. Texan redneck turtles or buffalo I dont give a sh**

You have shown care and respect for your environment, and thats a good thing to do.

Whichever dad you are today, mate, yer such a DAD... :wink:

RH

Well, dadpad - Do you mind if I call you dad, for short? - We are both technically correct, since it all depends on where one lives and how much of a stickler one is for favored terms. Here is a bit more from the Wickipedia article:

Turtle, tortoise or terrapin?

Different animals are called turtles, tortoises, or terrapins in different varieties of EnglishAlthough the word "turtle" is widely used to describe all members of the order Testudines, it is also common to see certain members described as terrapins, tortoises or sea turtles as well. Precisely how these alternative names are used, if at all, depends on the type of English being used.

British English normally describes these reptiles as turtles if they live in the sea; terrapins if they live in fresh or brackish water; or tortoises if they live on land. However, there are exceptions to this where American or Australian common names are in wide use, as with the Fly River turtle.
American English tends to use the word turtle for all species regardless of habitat, although tortoise may be used as a more precise term for any land-dwelling species. Oceanic species may be more specifically referred to as sea turtles. The name "terrapin" is strictly reserved for the brackish water diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin; the word terrapin in this case being derived from the Algonquian word for this animal.[2]
Australian English uses turtle for both the marine and freshwater species but tortoise for the terrestrial species.
To avoid confusion, the word chelonian is popular among veterinarians, scientists, and conservationists working with these animals as a catch-all name for any member of the order Testudines. It is based on the Ancient Greek word χελώνη (chelone, modern Greek χελώνα), meaning tortoise.

Whatever ya name him, he still beat the hair... :wink:

I bet I'm the only one remembers from childhood the tale of Hypotenuse Turtle. He was probably a tortoise, also.