Turtles and tortoises are not the same. Turtles are aquatic and reside in water. Tortoises are land-dwellers and typically sink in water. The exception to the name rule is the box turtle, which resides on land in dry climates. Fortunately, for this juvenile gopher tortoise, a passerby knew the difference, rescuing him from a watery demise. Would you know the differences between a turtle vs. a tortoise?
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When the man spotted the tiny tortoise floating in the water, he knew it was out of place. He carefully picked up the gopher tortoise and transported it to a more suitable area. One of the most noticeable differences between a turtle vs. a tortoise is the feet. Even though the tortoise is fully retracted, you can see its feet when the man holds it up.
Tortoises have stumpy legs with flat feet, while turtles have wider, webbed feet. Many turtles have flippers instead of front legs. The shape of their shells is also different. Tortoises are more rounded and dome-shaped. Turtles are more streamlined and flat, which helps them glide through water more efficiently.
Many commenters on the post mistakenly thought the tiny tortoise was a sulcata tortoise. Although similar in appearance as juveniles, the rescued swimmer is a gopher tortoise. Gopher tortoises remain relatively small into adulthood, growing to about 9 to 11 inches and only weighing ten pounds. They can live to around 90 years old in captivity.
Gopher tortoises are listed as threatened and are a protected species in Florida. It is illegal to capture and relocate them without proper permitting, except in cases of emergency rescue. When this gentleman picked up the tortoise from the water, he relocated it to a nearby, suitable area.
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