Some people believe that the word turtle is another word for tortoise. They believe that the two words are names for the same animal, but that is not true. Turtles and tortoises are related, and they are both reptiles. However,there are differences between these two animals. Most turtles live in salt water and can swim. They have hard shells and flippers for swimming. Tortoises usually live on land. Land tortoises have legs instead of flippers so that they can move on land. Sometimes tortoises live in fresh water, but not in salt water like turtles. The tortoises which live in freshwater have webbed feet and sharp claws so that they can move well in water and on land, as well. Both turtles and tortoises hatch from eggs and both can grow to be very large. Both animals have been around since prehistoric times.