student asking question

What's the difference between "turtle" and "tortoise"? Is the word "tortoise" a more formal and academic term?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Turtles" and "tortoises" are actually different species. "Tortoises" live exclusively on land. "Turtles" live on both the land and the sea. "Turtles" and "tortoises" also have slightly different shells and different leg shapes.

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