Friday, April 1, 2011

What's the difference between turtle, tortoise and terrapin? WWF maximum cards/ maxicards/ dorincards about Venezuela: The Red-footed tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria), and The Arrau turtle, also known as the Arrau River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa)


UL [upper-left] and LL: "The Red-footed tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria) is a tortoise native to South America. 
It has also been introduced to many islands in the Caribbean. 
It draws its name from the red or orange scales visible on its limbs, as well as its head and tail. 
It is popular as a pet, though it is protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which means that this species may not be exported from its home country without a permit.[1] 
The Red-foot has a larger cousin, the Yellow-footed Tortoise (Geochelone denticulata), also known as the Brazilian Giant Tortoise. 
Note: Many newer references will use the Genus name Chelonoidis in place of the older term Geochelone for all four South American tortoises. [2]
It is locally known as the Savanna Tortoise, in Brazil as Jabuti, and in Venezuela as Morrocoy[2], among other names.[2]"

  UR and LR: "The Arrau turtle, also known as the Arrau River Turtle, is Podocnemis expansa, the largest of the side-neck turtles (Pleurodira). 
It is found in the Amazon rainforest."

What's the difference between turtle, tortoise and terrapin?

"Turtle, tortoise, or terrapin

Although the word turtle is widely used to describe all members of the order Testudines, it is also common to see certain members described as terrapins, tortoises or sea turtles, as well. Precisely how these alternative names are used, if at all, depends on the type of English being used.
  • British English normally describes these reptiles as turtles if they live in the sea; terrapins if they live in fresh or brackish water; or tortoises if they live on land. However, there are exceptions to this where American or Australian common names are in wide use, as with the Fly River turtle.
  • American English tends to use the word turtle as a general term for all species. "Tortoise" is used for most land-dwelling species, including the family Testudinidae and box tortoises. Oceanic species are usually referred to as sea turtles. The name "terrapin" is typically reserved only for the brackish water diamondback terrapinMalaclemys terrapin; the word terrapin being derived from theAlgonquian word for this animal.[17]
  • Australian English uses turtle for both the marine and freshwater species, but tortoise for the terrestrial species.
To avoid confusion, the word "chelonian" [pronounced KELONIAN] is popular among veterinarians, scientists, and conservationists working with these animals as a catch-all name for any member of the superorder Chelonia, which includes all turtles, tortoises and terrapins living and extinct, as well as their immediate ancestors. It is based on the Ancient Greek word χελώνη, chelōnēModern Greek χελώνα, chelōna; meaning turtle/tortoise."

"Venezuela (pronounced /ˌvɛnɨˈzweɪlə/ ( listen)Spanish: [beneˈswela]), officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (SpanishRepública Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America."
Legitimate question for "whoever invented the Spanish language" [ :D :D] :
since you already have the letter B to describe the sound B, then...
...would you also need the letter V, for the sound B?
Also, since you have S, why would you use Z instead?
If you want everybody [who has a modicum of foreign language skills, I might specify] to pronounce 
then write: Benesuela, not Venezuela.
How hard is that?
:)
Don't worry, no language is perfect, not even Esperanto, Interlingua or Lingua Franca.
However, a phonetic language, "what you see is what you pronounce" would make more sense, now wouldn't it?
:)

" [Christopher Columbus's] certainty of having attained Paradise made him name this region Land of Grace, a phrase which has become the country's nickname.
Nevertheless, the following year of 1499, an expedition led by Alonso de Ojeda visited the Venezuelan coast. The stilt houses in the area ofLake Maracaibo reminded the navigator Amerigo Vespucci of the city of Venice, (ItalianVenezia), so he named the region "Venezuela,"[10]meaning "little Venice" in Italian. The word has the same meaning in Spanish, where the suffix -uela is used as a diminutive term (e.g., plaza / plazuelacazo / cazuela); thus, the term's original sense would have been that of a "little Venice".[11]
Nonetheless, although the Vespucci story remains the most popular and accepted version of the origin of the country's name, a different reason for the name comes up in the account of Martín Fernández de Enciso, a member of the Vespucci and Ojeda crew. In his work Summa de Geografía, he states that they found an indigenous population who called themselves the "Veneciuela," which suggests that the name "Venezuela" may have evolved from the native word.[12]"

So, Columbus was certain that this was Paradise.
Venezuela, a land of beauty. Something that oil money can't buy.
"Venezuela is well-known for its successes in beauty pageants. 
Miss Venezuela is a big event in the country, and Venezuela has received 5 Miss World, 6 Miss Universe, 6 Miss International and 1 Miss Earth titles."
I suspect that Miss Earth was the most "down-to-earth" of them all.
When you want to see...stellar images, you can look at the...Milky Way.
How about the...Milka Way?


==============
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7 comments:

MrCachet said...

Nice 'Why' stamp, Dorin. Always a good history lesson to be found with your great cards!

Sheila @ A Postcard a Day said...

I've often wondered about the differences between turtles, tortoises and terrapins. Now I know. :)

Joy said...

Fascinating pictures of the river turtle. Probably can't pronounce V or B but indeed must add to the beauty of the country.

Postcardy said...

I call all of them turtles--it's easier than trying to remember which is which.

Funoldhag said...

I could try to remember but this old brain is tending not to absorb as much in my old age as it used to. Guess I am lucky it is working as well as it does. Your posts are really great and very informative.

Kristen said...

Nice work.

Clytie said...

This is why I love your blog ... I always get to see some wonderful postcards ... and I get to learn so many interesting things! Although I do have to agree with Postcardy who said "I call all of them turtles".

We have the same issue here with newts. They are called salamanders by some ... but we always knew them as 'water dogs'. :=}

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