They are prehistoric looking with the most obvious characteristic being the house they carry on their back, the shell. They are long-lived creatures, their have been many records set on how long turtles can live. Some can live up to 80 to 100 years. So you may be embarking on a long commitment. You can usually tell the difference by looking at the animal s feet.
Aquatic turtles have feet that are suited for swimming and have webbing between the toes.
Others lack webbing and are strictly land turtles. In most turtles, you can tell the difference between a male and female because their tail length differs. Males have a longer pointed tail than the females. This is, of course, just a guideline. The shell has evolved for protection from predators.