A turtle is a reptile because it has dry, scaly skin, breathes with lungs, and lays shelled eggs on land, unlike amphibians that have smooth, moist skin, lay unshelled eggs in water, and go through an aquatic larval stage with gills. Key reptilian traits of turtles include the absence of an aquatic larval stage and the use of lungs for breathing their entire lives.
Reptile vs. Amphibian traits
| Reptile (Turtle) | Amphibian | |
|---|---|---|
| Skin | Dry and scaly | Smooth and moist |
| Respiration | Lungs only, throughout life | Gills as larvae, lungs as adults |
| Egg-laying | Shelled eggs laid on land | Gelatinous eggs laid in water |
| Larval stage | No aquatic larval stage | Typically has an aquatic larval stage (e.g., tadpole) |
| Metamorphosis | No metamorphosis | Undergoes metamorphosis |
