Tortoises belong to the family, Testudinidae, of land-dwelling turtles in the order Testudines.

Despite popular belief, than turtles live in the sea, and tortoises live on land, tortoises are in fact turtles. They are not a separate group.

Order Testudines (turtles and tortoises)

Turtles are of the Order Testudines (turtles, tortoises and terrapins)

Within that Order there are eleven different Families of turtles.

Within each Family there is one or more Genus's.

its a type of reptile, the turtle. It is the name to the order that turtles, terrapins, and tortoises belong to.

It actually means turtle in latin

both are reptiles and testudines. their limbs are quite similar 2
Turtles and tortoises make up the order Testudines in the class Reptilia. Tortoises make up the family Testudinidae in the order Testudines. Tortoises live entirely on land. Aquatic turtles come onto land to mate and lay eggs, and some hibernate in burrows during the winter. Turtles and tortoises are cold blooded except for Leatherback sea turtles that produce internal heat in their muscles while swimming. Most turtles are omnivores, although some seagoing turtles are carnivores. Tortoises are generally herbivores, although some have been known to scavenge carrion. Tortoises and turtles are toothless, but have hard rough tongues and plates on their jaws with which they are able to grind their food. Tortoises have much thicker and heavier shells that tortoises. Aquatic turtles that seldom leave the water have the lightest and thinnest shells. Turtles and tortoises are very similar in anatomy and physical characteristics.
Turtles and tortoises have much in common, as tortoises are a branch from the much larger group of turtles. Features include a bone shell, and a neck that buckles in an 'S' curve in order to pull the head back and protect it - although sea turtles have a very reduced ability to pull their heads back.