Is [Turtle] a “Turtle,” “Tortoise,” or “Terrapin”?

Nancy — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:28:53 +0000

The Name the Turtle Contest ends in just 11 days! First prize is the first edition of the [Turtle] Storybook Quilt or one of our other themes. Second prize is a gift certificate good toward any of the Storybook Quilts.

By now, you all are familiar with [Turtle] and his adventures But is [Turtle] really a “turtle” or is he a tortoise or a terrapin?

Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle

Although British, American and Australian English use the terms somewhat differently, the sea-dwelling [Turtle] would be a turtle in all versions. In American English, he’s a “sea turtle,” to distinguish him from a turtle that lives in fresh water, like the snapper our earlier post.

What’s a tortoise, then? They are first cousins to turtles and they live on land. Think of the giant tortoises of the Galapagos islands. Growing up to 4.3 feet long and weighing as much as 660 pounds, a tortoise’s average life expectancy is estimated at 200 years. In 2006, a giant tortoise named Adwaita said to be as old as 250 years died in a Calcutta zoo, having been taken to India by British sailors, records suggest, before the American Revolution. That’s old!

Giant Tortoise

And a terrapin? That name is reserved for the diamondback terrapin, which is a type of turtle (and, of course, for the University of Maryland athletic teams!). The terrapin is believed to be the only turtle that survives in brackish water areas (a mix of salt and sea water) and is native to the eastern coast of the US.

Diamondback Terrapin

So, [Turtle] is a turtle. What better gift could you find for that wonderful child in your life?

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Storybook Quilts Rocks! » tortoise

Is [Turtle] a “Turtle,” “Tortoise,” or “Terrapin”?