My turtle is a tortoise. (See Mr. Turtle below.) I learned today a major difference between a turtle and tortoise: The former has web feet for swimming. The tortoise is a land-dweller that eats low-growing shrubs, grasses, and even cactus. Tortoises do not have webbed feet. Their feet are round and stumpy for walking on land. So my Mr. Turtle is undoubtedly a tortoise. So who knew?