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Turtles and tortoises form a large group of reptiles characterized by a heavily
armored shell. The protection this shell gives probably accounts for their
survival, but it is not known exactly how this peculiar structure evolved.
Although the shell provides complete protection, it
makes movement on land very slow and cumbersome, and most members of the group
in fact live in the water. With the support of water the turtles have become
good swimmers in both fresh and seawater. In America all members of this group
are called turtles, whereas in Britain this name is reserved for those that live
in the sea. Those that live in fresh water are usually called terrapins and
those that live on land are called tortoises.
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