Turtle, Tortoise or Terrapin?

What is the difference between a turtle, a tortoise, and a terrapin? Lots of people think they know the answer to this question, but few actually do. Clint will explain a few simple ways to tell the difference between these three groups of shelled reptiles.

[tessiergo]

Love this video Clint! Bravo!!! I've kept, loved, and studied turtles almost my entire life, and at 44 now you have finally handed me the definitive answer! I've done some studies myself and never came to the conclusion that it boiled down to their feet as the ultimate deciding factor! So simple, I don't know how I missed it!
My own conclusions were mostly their diet but you're right, there are some exceptions even to that rule... Love your explanation here, love love LOVE IT!!!
Keep up the good work, all your videos I've had the pleasure to view are fantastic!!
In general there is so much confusing information out there from people who think they know, but often they're just spouting about their own opinions. I have not watched A single video of yours yet that I've disagreed with ANY of your information! You're extremely informed, obviously experienced, well-presented, and a breath of fresh air in the reptile community.
Yes It's so important to share knowledge but one should have that knowledge proven and correct before sharing it as fact.
We'll done my friend!! Keep up the good work and we'll keep up supporting you the best we can... let us know if we can do more to keep you going, cheers!

PS.
I personally would love to see you do a video on the difference between Newts and Salamanders, two of my favorites!!

Also a video on the Fly  River turtle would be awesome!! Tho obscure, my favorite Chelonian of all and I'd love to see what you know about their breeding process! ✌️😊

[abbyglass]

Clint: "Elephants walk on their toes too"
My brain: "Elephants are tortoises"

[wilsoncalhoun]

"elephants are heavy"

CITATION NEEDED

[davidls]

Just a quick note, in case you want to know why Clint said terrapins aren't really a thing.
Terrapins are what is called a "paraphyletic" group. This means it includes a group with a last common ancestor but randomly excludes some taxa, based on criteria like anatomy and physiology. A paraphyletic group is considered an invalid taxon, as it ignores the rules of basic taxonomy and phylogeny in favor of characteristics that are often product of convergent evolution.

[saladv]

Ohhh so it's like how geckos are lizards but not all lizards are geckos

[mikedee]

I allways thought turtles were aquatic or semi aquatic and tortoises where only on land.
Mind blown

[Duckmaster]

I have always just thought offhand about this, you hear people talk this way and that, but with this video now I can finally state that Elephants are in fact heavy

[williamskay]

“Elephants, as it turns out, are heavy.” Lost it 😂

[cees]

Fun fact: in the Netherlands, we call turtles, tortoises and terrapins "shield toads"

[alexandralugosi]

“Because elephants as it turns out, are heavy” hahaha I’m dead lol

[ellieevans]

oh man, this guy seems like a great dude to be around. Love the videos, keep it up!

[acebrown]

Bro you're extremely educated and I appreciate what you're doing for children and adults alike...

[ComradeTomatoTurtle]

It's literally one of the most heated discussions when talking about turtles. Like you can't go through a comment section without someone lecturing someone how a tortoise isn't a turtle because they can't swim or something else. It's useless arguing with them, like I even showed them a video of a tortoise crossing a river by swimming and it's doesn't change their opinion.

I just go by what the professionals use or the scientists use colloquially that a turtle can be used to refer to what Clint describe them as.

[otakurhythm]

Im suprised this channel only has 184k sub.this channel deserves more love.

[erintaylor]

I have a box turtle and people always try to tell me that he’s not a turtle he’s a tortoise. I always have to explain that first, tortoises are in fact turtles, and secondly, that just because he lives on land doesn’t mean he’s a tortoise.

Also I had a box turtle named Shelly too!!

[GRich_]

Clint: And last.. but not least, THE HUMAN TURTLE
*Stares at screen chewing lettuce*

[Marie-cqeq]

Absolutely amazing video! This is the kinda stuff we need in the reptile community! Bravo. 💜

[junielthegamer]

Not gonna lie...




I got a little bit confused when he started talking about terrapins...JUST A LITTLE BIT!!! OKAY?

[gizelliedunson]

My mind is blown, I've never actually known the difference and I thought this all was going to be more complicated but nah, it's just how they walk! I always love how I always learn useful and interesting stuff from this channel. Keep up the good work!

[nella_paulina]

They have elephant tiny feet omg that's so cute!