Turtle, Tortoise or Terrapin?

[@tessier2go]

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! ✌️😊

[@mimindawebster4390]

Joseph Tessier Hello. My name is Miminda Webster & I am 52 I belief I have tortes. What do I feed them daily

[@biodag-deargmaclachlan21]

@@mimindawebster4390 are you 52 or 5 and a half? Lol

[@kronikkronolov9793]

Lol, this was obviously written by Clint.

[@abbyglass4565]

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

[@desertdust777]

Yes, they are!

[@kunaldevsingh5514]

🤣

[@JackieFuckingChan]

Lol, Abby

[@ms.therapie163]

You're so close to 69 likes (I'm the 68th like) so Imma say *nice..* In advance

[@mdarifhussain1]

or tortoises are elephants?!

[@wilsoncalhoun]

"elephants are heavy" CITATION NEEDED

[@australovenatortomino_1741]

Excactly, like, I don't know how he came to that conclusion, must have pulled it out of his... somewhere.

[@kritikavyaa]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZebcp9mpZtqhq8

[@williamskay109]

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

[@methanbreather]

one learns something new every day. What are we going to learn next? Maybe it is time to answer the old question: are reptiles fish?

[@Duckmaster123]

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

[@ClintsReptiles]

Yeah, Dumbo really messed a lot of people up on this one...

[@davidls187]

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.

[@Soupy_loopy]

I don't get it. But it seems like a paraphyletic group is a real thing in biology. So I don't understand why it's invalid or whatever? I should have never bothered looking up what a terrapin is. I don't even really care.

[@j73991]

@@Soupy_loopy This used to confuse me a lot too! This is how I understand it: Paraphyletic groups are "real things" in the sense that they are groups you could make, because the groupings we make in biology are based on rules that humans make up. So if you want a group that is "turtles that live in fresh or brackish water" and call them terrapins, you can just do that. However, in the modern field of biology, we try to only classify animals using cladistics, where the goal is to group animals into clades (monophyletic groups). When you only consider monophyletic groups valid, paraphyletic and polyphyletic groups are definitionally invalid. I hope that makes sense :)

[@mikedee4123]

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

[@forrestgump8717]

Yeah, animals like the box turtle and the wood turtle act just like tortoises. They probably confused a lot of biologists/scientists trying to put them in a group!:D lol

[@jordansmithson9602]

Yell, you're not wrong. Most turtles are at least semi-aquatic. Box turtles do swim upon occasion. However, tortoises are 100% land animals. They may enjoy a nice mud bath/soak, but they can not swim.

[@ClintsReptiles]

Those things are often, but not always, true. I'm glad this helped :)

[@Beeetlejjug]

Mike Dee412 ikr

[@nikkigreenshoes]

SAME! I THOUGHT THAT TOO

[@cees04]

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

[@Bazzable]

that's strange

[@AnApple-xg8lm]

Same in Finland

[@TheKaiuzzz]

@@AnApple-xg8lm im from Finland

[@heinrichkrull2523]

In estonian they are kilpkonnad, a literal english translation would be shieldfrogs.

[@porsche911sbs]

in German turtle is _Schildkröten_ ("shield toad") while tortoise is _Landschildkröten_ ("land shield toad"). Beautiful language.

[@saladv3028]

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

[@ClintsReptiles]

Exactly!

[@EmperorFett]

Clint's Reptiles a square is a rectangle but not all rectangles are square

[@laurelcook9078]

Salad V I remember in 11th grade my friend talked to me like I was an idiot when I said “is this a lizard or a gecko?” I learned that geckos are lizards that day, lol.

[@elcousin2409]

My nephew found a turtle is his backyard and told his mom, finders keepers. As she posted on her Facebook page her mom replied that it was not a turtle but a tortoise. I am glad you explained this. Thank you www.diffen.com/difference/Tortoise_vs_Turtle

[@Indiancountryball4life]

hahahaha. XD

[@G2Rich_]

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

[@ellieevans2578]

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

[@ClintsReptiles]

Thank you so much! That was so kind of you to say. We will do our best to keep them coming!

[@alexandralugosi]

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

[@ClintsReptiles]

It came as a shock to a lot of us 😉

[@nella_paulina]

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

[@Ghost-kt9et]

it's actually "elephantine" as in elephant-like LOL

[@erintaylor7858]

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!!

[@dumupad3-da241]

Depends on whether you're British or American. Sounds like you use the word in the American way and the people you talk to use it in the British way.

[@tinyflyingdragons9432]

Thank you

[@nella_paulina]

God I love your videos, they are very calming and informative, plus the quality, man, it's amazing! Keep up the good work!

[@ClintsReptiles]

Thank you so much! It is nice to hear that somebody finds them calming. It seems like more people think I'm on drugs. Who needs drugs when you have reptiles??

[@acebrown1527]

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

[@otakurhythm1160]

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

[@Marie-cq7eq]

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

[@leemason5953]

"Elephants,as it turns out are heavy" 😂🤣😂🤣😭

[@TheGreatWolfYT]

Better that my native language we call them both the same word

[@user-uf4lf2bp8t]

Same in afrikaans

[@AlexGunn]

Same in spanish...

[@sastavideoswala]

Same in Marathi

[@kostasspirou1010]

Same in Greek

[@thescavenger5003]

so it seems like it's the same in every language except English...interesting

[@BarelloSmith]

English is the only language I know that has two (or apparently three) different common terms for turtles. In Italian, German, Spanish and French there's only one term respectively.

[@unknownparker9278]

Both Tortoise And Turtles Are Both So Adorable.🐢😄

[@junielthegamer2845]

Not gonna lie... I got a little bit confused when he started talking about terrapins...JUST A LITTLE BIT!!! OKAY?

[@ClintsReptiles]

Just know that they are garbage :)

[@junielthegamer2845]

Clint's Reptiles lol that's hilarious (and ironic) coming from you XD but what makes you say that tho?😕

[@ClintsReptiles]

They aren't grouped based on their relatedness to one another. It is like calling two people twins because they are wearing the same shirts.

[@junielthegamer2845]

Clint's Reptiles but do they make good pets? (Not that i'm planning on getting one that is)

[@ClintsReptiles]

They can be wonderful :)

[@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!

[@ClintsReptiles]

Thank you so much! I think much of biology is so much simpler than you would think. We'll keep it coming!

[@mitchjonas7466]

It's really cool to see your channel growing. I've been here since March. You're doing an awesome job man.

[@ClintsReptiles]

Thank you so much!

[@dumupad3-da241]

The video really should have mentioned that there is a difference between American, British and Australian usage here. The British rule is 'tortoise = terrestrial, turtle = aquatic'. The American lay rule is 'tortoise = terrestrial, turtle = any shelled reptile'. And what the vid explained is a scientific taxonomic version of the US rule: 'tortoise = Testitudinidae, turtle = any Testudines'.

[@andrewdevine3920]

'Elephants walk on their toes, like ballerinas.' Yeah, sure, buddy.

[@AiryFake]

Great job managing the 3 turtles at once :D I have trouble with just one outside :D

[@d1moabz28]

Can you do a video on the evolution of modern reptiles or a video on their ancestors because it's really interesting?

[@ClintsReptiles]

That is a really cool idea! I would really like to do that. Any other cool ideas?

[@d1moabz28]

Clint's Reptiles it would be really cool if you could explain all the different groups of reptiles, especially lizards because I find that I can see obvious differences in lizards but sometimes I can't tell apart the genus and orders and such

[@ClintsReptiles]

I've already got a lesson on that for when I teach animal diversity. That is a great idea! Keep 'em coming!

[@gemmachaos]

That was much more informative that I thought it would be.

[@ClintsReptiles]

I'm glad it exceeded your expectations. It seems like most people think they know the answer to this question, but few of those answers are true :)

[@runepk4life500]

I loved this video. I'd like to see more taxonomy/phylogeny videos! Perhaps some on snakes? The origins of snake venom has always interested me. In my university class we discussed the possibility that iguanas and lizards could have venom because they are closely related to the Gila Monster who has venom, and all of these animals (Gila Monsters, iguanas, lizards, and snakes) share a common recent ancestor in which venom is thought to have evolved

[@jonathannemati5997]

Technically, in many cases we don't actually know definitively whether a reptile is venomous or has toxic saliva or just has bacteriotoxins in their mouth, and without some very detailed studies it can be pretty hard to determine (for example, it was only fairly recently that researchers determined that the Komodo dragon was venomous and has a form of venom glands. And they are giant lizards which should theoretically be easier to study anatomically than most).

[@ieatkittenswspicymustard5089]

Just watched your video on the turtle family and realized I need to watch this one. Love your videos and watch them with my 6 year old. Today I'm watching it alone because animals are cool.

[@soulsonwheels9016]

I was expecting this video to be less informational than the rest but I honestly learned much more than I was expecting.

[@ClintsReptiles]

+Souls On Wheels this is a great comment! Thank you so much. I am so glad!

[@reptilesrodents]

Clint your always teaching me something new thank you for that it's pretty rad lol. Thats why I love to watch. Have a great day.

[@LRRSmith]

Oh my goodness! The side-necked turtle's nose is so adorable!!!

[@ClintsReptiles]

Isn't that a fun little face??

[@Icemanfreezer7]

@@ClintsReptiles Hey Clint, I'm really interested in getting an aquatic turtle! I've been thinking about getting one for years now, but up until now I neither had the money, nor the space for an adequate sized aquarium. Would you mind telling me the species of that sidenecked turtle you got there? :) I first thought it would be a pink belly sideneck turtle, but I'm anything but sure about that. Discovered your channel about an hour ago and immediately fell in love with your content! I'm bingewatching your videos now. Hope you'll get more recognition/subscriptions, you certainly deserve it. All the best from central Europe :) P.S. the Argentine Tegu you got seems like an amazing companion, absolutely envy you!

[@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.

[@ragytag]

Seriously more complex than I expected

[@ClintsReptiles]

A little bit, but at the end of the day it is pretty easy to tell the difference.

[@alexwarburton5378]

Really useful information! Thanks 🙂

[@ClintsReptiles]

You're very welcome! It seems like a lot of people have this question, and very few people who give answers give correct ones :)

[@littleghostfacer7814]

As always: Great video! Keep on with this good stuff

[@ClintsReptiles]

Thank you so much. If we are going to make separations, it should always be based on relatedness :)

[@ibic2441]

So, if this had german subtitles, would it be like All turtles are turtles but not all turtles are turtles Or something like that, just curious

[@andreavllarreal]

@@ibic2441 in Spanish it's like that lol

[@MegaCheese48]

If you took a shot every time Clint says the word turtle you'd be dead by the end of the episode. Thank you for this wonderful information!

[@giggityskull8986]

That first "hi there!" Made me call Chris Hansen

[@choirmeyer]

After spending over the last 6 hours rediscovering my childhood turtle friend, YT algorithm decided to reward me with this gem. I'd had the 14 family vid up earlier tonight, so perhaps that makes sense. But yeah. Sweet. And, after some sleep, I'll have a story to go and share :)

[@Jaytecx]

I wondered, what's the difference between the turtle and tortoise? And here you are! KZbin is great, and thanks for your explanation.

[@graciepooh99]

I have on notifications and didnt get notified for this one. I love your videos ♥

[@calliew311]

Great info, and given succinctly and fully! Thanks!

[@punchincorporated]

houdini is so cute with his little legs swimming in the air 😭💖

[@paulhetrick1759]

So are red ear sliders, snapping turtles, box turtles etc.... terrapins ???? Also, I have seen footage of tortoises swimming, but many people claim that they can't, what are your thoughts on this?

[@mvgikk1969]

they just float or drown

[@ttthegr8]

I told someone that and they looked at me strangely. I'm happy I just watched your video. I didn't know the fancy words but I got it. Thank you

[@dwahhhh]

Good Video!! I really needed someone to explain this to me , cause I was very confused by it..The thing is I´m German and in German they are ( as far as I know) called the same. turtle -Schildkröte and turtoise also Schildkröte. (Sometimes they name the animals that live in the water Wasserschildkröte (translated) water Schildkröte.) :)

[@australiansteachenglish3474]

This is excellent and funny for all levels! Kids as well as adults will enjoy this one. Great stuff.

[@loganthewyrmlord6355]

Wow I had a turtle named "Shelly" a while ago. Thanks for directing me to this video Clint.

[@tufenuf3282]

4:42 elephants are actually turtles, illuminati confirmed 2019

[@jordansmithson9602]

I love it! Please make more tortoise/turtle videos. Maybe care videos or species-specific spotlights.

[@ClintsReptiles]

We definitely will! Any specific turtles you want to see?

[@d1moabz28]

Finally! I've been waiting so long for this thank you!

[@ClintsReptiles]

You're very welcome! Hopefully this lived up to your expectations :)

[@khronikos4622]

I love the way he's holding them lmao

[@edenfuturistics]

As it turns out elephants are heavy! Cuz Science! Love your videos!

[@jacobguy3343]

Thanks for the vid it was really cool to learn about we used to have a gopher tortoise who was basically our pet she just came out of the woods one day we were cleaning fish we have her some and she has been hanging around for about 15 years now she does leave in the winter but come spring always under or porch

[@ClintsReptiles]

What an awesome experience with cool wildlife!

[@ollie4365]

Love how you gesticulate with the turtles

[@Skittenmeow]

Completely unrelated but loving the plant life in the background! Especially the "snake plant" Sansevieria. Would be fun to have more reptile themed background plants, or different Sansevieria species and cultivars. They're so great for air quality :)

[@ViraL_FootprinT.ex.e]

I've learned and relearned this over and over again since elementary school in the 90s so many y times. And I always forget. Just something I never retain. _I'm gifted in other ways_

[@LonghornInOmaha]

Love the videos! Great explanation of the differences.

[@ClintsReptiles]

Thank you! Hopefully it was clear.

[@alexnitro1101]

I enjoy this guy’s excitement

[@b3arj3w69]

Can you do a more in depth review on different turtle species and how they evolved and are related to each other. I find this kind of thing very interesting. Love your videos.

[@nationalsniper5413]

It is also quite a mystery where evolutionary they fit along the other branches of reptiles: crocodilians, tuatara and squamate (lizards and snakes). They are very unique among the other reptiles. But like crocodilians they exist for more than 220 million years.

[@elcousin2409]

What kind of turtle would be most common chilling in the streets and yards of Ashburn/Sterling, Virginia areas?

[@Spite_Lip]

Many other animals are digitigrade - Horses, Dogs, some felines, foxes, etc. We just don't think that way because we assume its a foot. Horses actually walk on just a single toe per leg.

[@nikkijackson2981]

The little guy who lies motionless on the table.. he's all personality that one 😀😂😂

[@amandamartinez7179]

I read so many articles and learned nothing, but this video was amazing! Now I know I have a turtle!

[@mariadapurezadorey7258]

Hi! Thank you so much for your videos! Six years ago i got what i thought was a turtle in a pet store. Now, after some research, I found out it is actually a species of tortoise called Mauremys Leprosa. But I cannot find much information on the feeding and proper care. Is there any way you could help? Cheers xx

[@JaslynnsIlovemylifechannel]

Loving learning new things about my turtle.

[@ZokomoTV]

I learned more than I expected. Awesome!

[@azush1055]

Very informal I love turtle and also tortoises I love how you do topics that are as common, keep it up!!!!🐍🦎👍👍🐢🐢

[@ClintsReptiles]

Thank you so much! We sure will.

[@eaterofants9588]

As always great video! I've never really been into turtles, so this was a great watch. Very informative - my interest about turtles is piqued. I adore your videos. They have all the elements that classify a favorite teacher; calm, easily understood, smart but also surprisingly witty and charming. Looking very much forward to any and all future videos As for now, can anyone tell me the name of that sidenecked turtle? It is an amazing little creature, so adorable :)

[@ClintsReptiles]

Thank you so much! That is one of the best reviews ever. That was an African sideneck.

[@StonedtotheBones13]

Still messes me up that elephants are just in high heels all the time

[@SiriusBlackBuscus]

Why does Clint look like a kid playing with model airplanes when he holds the turtle and tortoise?

[@stingyringy4039]

Thanks to your video on leopard geckos my parents got me a leopard gecko for Christmas

[@ClintsReptiles]

That is awesome (and so are your parents)!

[@stingyringy4039]

Clint's Reptiles thank you very much keep the videos coming you are doing great

[@feldmuis]

In my language we just have 1 name and basically comes down to "shell-toad". This is in a rough translation of course, we dont see them as a toad with a shell lol.

[@realworldish]

I wish I was excited about anything as this guy is about turtles

[@michaelbooher3793]

Excellent boiled it right down..and nailed it..thank you bud

[@oliviaotakusama101]

Great video! Honestly, it really helped me tell the difference.

[@nationalsniper5413]

Very informative. In my country (Netherlands) we have no different words for tortoise, just for turtle. We just say 'schildpad' (which translates to shell toad). We do differentiate by adding land, sea and water/swamp to it. Tortoise translate in Dutch as Landschildpad (land turtle). Which kinda makes sense because AFAIK all tortoises are land turtles and not fresh water or sea turtles. But I recently learned that some land turtles (like box turtles) are not tortoises, which makes it kinda confusing.

[@TurtleTreehouse]

What specific species/breeds are each of the turtles in the video?

[@colortempo4516]

Mr.Clint,can u to a tank/cage set up for each reptiles? Especially beared dragon

[@ClintsReptiles]

I think that is a great idea.

[@stikbotanimstions]

I really think you should have a show you explain things very well its fun to watch your videos. Keep it up god bless u

[@ClintsReptiles]

Thank you so much! That would be fun :)

[@G2Rich_]

If shell is removed is it still turtle shell or tortoise shell? And How would you know if you just received the shell instead of the living creature #foodforthought

[@kiki29073]

The Hidden neck turtle looks like an uncircumcised male appendage. Lol

[@el_melocoton]

Thank you for the video! I wondered about this ever since I read Small Gods.

[@hob976]

That just blew my mind. I have to stop correcting people when they call my Sulcata a turtle... turns out they're right!

[@breejordan8086]

This was so interesting and helpful for me! More taxonomy videos, please!

[@z0vc947]

so if I understand right, all tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises, a tortoise is like a kind of turtle is this correct?

[@ClintsReptiles]

That is correct!

[@g.rodriguez7445]

Follow up question- Do they walk on their toes (tortoises) because of their long claws used for digging...Maybe if their toes nails were clipped they would walk on their feet ...

[@ben2184]

Those snails look weird

[@tjardokiewiet9115]

Very informative thanks. Beatiful animals

[@Lemu_with_a_shirt]

This is one that's been very difficult for me as a non native English speaker. I'm used to just "turtles". In casual conversation one might use "seaturtle" for watery ones, but that's it. I think my biggest problem with learning other languages is just when it has so many words for what's one thing in your first language. Also always confused with the "moths aren't butterflies" thing, because they are classified as butterflies in my first language, and generally referred to as "night butterflies" So many examples of this stuff, but turtles are one I see so many people struggle with very regularly.

[@Lemu_with_a_shirt]

After watching: I was always told that turtles are water creatures and tortoises are land creatures... Figured it wasn't an absolute truth, but wow that's so very different.

[@monkeyskater105]

This mans name isn’t Clint, this mans name is David Tennant!!!

[@hajislover]

Learn something new every day!

[@theworthysoul]

His turtles are so little and adorable lol

[@desertdogscalifornia]

Cool! Very informative. One of my turtles is named Shelly. Hehe

[@idrisalmamri6612]

very informative...good job !

[@ClintsReptiles]

Thank you so much! I hope it was helpful.

[@ericamontano5056]

This is great info!! Love turtles!! You should do an abronia video! They're so cute and sweet !! Plus they're really underrated and there's not a lot of info on them!

[@ClintsReptiles]

That is a great idea!

[@channeldead6340]

I love tortoises I own one he's a Greek tortoise called Reggie🐢

[@ClintsReptiles]

That is an awesome choice!