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Turtles are reptiles belonging to the Testudines order, distinguished by a bony or cartilaginous shell that develops from their ribs and serves as a shield. The term “turtle” can apply to both freshwater and sea-dwelling testudines (American English) (British English). Extant (alive) and extinct species make to the Testudines order. Turtles are one of the oldest reptile families, even older than snakes and crocodilians, with the earliest known individuals dating from the Middle Jurassic. Some of the 356 species known to exist today are critically endangered.

Turtles are ectotherms, or cold-blooded creatures, which means their internal temperature fluctuates depending on their surroundings. On the other hand, Leatherback sea turtles have a body temperature that is substantially greater than that of the surrounding water due to their high metabolic rate. Turtles, like other reptiles, birds, and mammals, are classed as amniotes. Turtles, like other amniotes, breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater, even though many species live in or near water.

A bale is a group of turtles. The phrases turtle, tortoise, and terrapin have different meanings depending on the dialect of English used. These are generic phrases that do not represent biological or taxonomic differences.

Turtle can refer to the order as a whole or to specific turtles that make up a non-monophyletic form taxon or refer to solely aquatic species. Any land-dwelling, non-swimming chelonian is referred to as a tortoise. Terrapin is a term that refers to a variety of tiny, edible hard-shell turtles that are often found in brackish waters.

Turtles are the common name for all chelonians in North America. Tortoises are only referred to be tortoises when they are entirely terrestrial turtles or, more specifically, members of the Testudinidae family of contemporary land tortoises. Small semi-aquatic turtles that dwell in fresh and brackish water, such as the diamondback terrapin, are known as terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin). Even though Terrapene members spend most of their time on land, they are known as box turtles rather than tortoises. The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists uses the name “turtle” to refer to all Testudines species, regardless of whether they are land or sea-dwelling, and “tortoise” slow-moving terrestrial species.

The term “turtle” is used in the United Kingdom for water-dwelling species, including those known as terrapins in the United States, but not for terrestrial species, which are known solely as tortoises.

Veterinarians, biologists, and conservationists who work with these animals use the term chelonian to refer to any member of the superorder Chelonia, which includes all living and extinct turtles.

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