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Tortoise vs Chelonian - What's the difference?

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.

tortoise

Noun

(en noun)
  • 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.
  • Synonyms

    * (l)

    Derived terms

    * tortoise shell, tortoise-shell, pancake tortoise

    See also

    * terrapin * turtle

    Anagrams

    *

    chelonian

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of, relating to, or belonging to the order Chelonia'' (''Testudines ), which includes the turtles and tortoises.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A reptile of the order Chelonia (Testudines )