tortoises
Land-dwelling shell-bearers
Tortoises is the plural of tortoise, a land-dwelling reptile with a high-domed shell and sturdy, column-like legs.
Unlike their aquatic relatives the turtles, tortoises live entirely on land and move slowly—hence the fable of the tortoise and the hare.
The Galápagos tortoises can live over a hundred years.
Some speakers use tortoise and turtle interchangeably, though technically tortoises are a subset.
Hard outer covering
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- chelonianTurtle family member
- carapaceProtective dorsal exoskeleton
plastron · scutes · herpetology · ectotherm · vertebrate · oviparous · eggs · basking
Moving slowly, heavily
- unhurriedTaking one's time
- deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental
- lumberingMoving heavily and awkwardly
- crawlingMoving on hands, knees
creeping · leisurely · steady · patient · methodical · ponderous · measured · gradual
Person over ninety-nine
- lifespanTotal existence duration
- ancientVery old indeed
- venerableDeserving honor for dignity
- HarrietFemale given name
Jonathan · enduring · ageless · long-lived · patriarch · matriarch · generations · survival
Animal's dug dwelling
- desertTo leave behind completely
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
- scrublandArea of low shrubs
arid · enclosure · terrarium · sanctuary · refuge · conservation · Seychelles · Madagascar
Feeding on pasture
- foliagePlant's leafy covering
- dandelionsYellow-flowered lawn weeds
- cloverThree-leafed legume plant
- hayDried feed crop
grasses · succulents · cacti · vegetables · hibiscus · weeds · foraging · browsing
shell
Hard outer covering
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- chelonianTurtle family member
carapace · plastron · scutes · herpetology · ectotherm · vertebrate · oviparous · eggs · basking · burrow
plodding
Moving slowly, heavily
- unhurriedTaking one's time
- deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental
- lumberingMoving heavily and awkwardly
crawling · creeping · leisurely · steady · patient · methodical · ponderous · measured · gradual · shuffling
centenarian
Person over ninety-nine
Harriet · Jonathan · enduring · ageless · long-lived · patriarch · matriarch · generations · survival · time-honored
burrow
Animal's dug dwelling
- desertTo leave behind completely
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
scrubland · arid · enclosure · terrarium · sanctuary · refuge · conservation · Seychelles · Madagascar · African
grazing
Feeding on pasture
- foliagePlant's leafy covering
- dandelionsYellow-flowered lawn weeds
- cloverThree-leafed legume plant
hay · grasses · succulents · cacti · vegetables · hibiscus · weeds · foraging · browsing · herbaceous
- plant-eatersherbivores, grazers, browsers, cows, horses
- DarwinCharles Darwin, natural selection, evolution, HMS Beagle, Galapagos
- Anapsidsturtles, sea turtles, box turtles, snapping turtles, mud turtles
- living thingsplants, animals, animal, creature, birds
- petsdog, dogs, cats, puppy, kitten
- vertebratesmammals, mammal, birds, bird, reptiles
tortoisessea turtles
Ocean-dwelling shelled reptiles
marine turtles · turtles · terrapins · aquatic reptiles · leatherbacks
- desert tortoiseDrought-adapted shelled reptile
- tortoise and hareAesop's contrasting racers
- giant tortoiseEnormous land chelonian
- tortoise shellReptilian protective outer casing
- hare and tortoiseFable's mismatched competitors
- tortoiseshell catsCats with mottled coloring