tortoise |
chelonian |
As nouns the difference between tortoise and chelonian
is that
tortoise is any of various land-dwelling reptiles, of family
testudinidae , whose body is enclosed in a shell (carapace plus plastron) the animal can withdraw its head and four legs partially into the shell, providing some protection from predators while
chelonian is a reptile of the order chelonia (
testudines ).
As an adjective chelonian is
of, relating to, or belonging to the order
chelonia'' (''testudines ), which includes the turtles and tortoises.