Are tortoises related to the dinosaurs?

[magoo]

I was just thinking about this - I'm sure I read somewhere that tortoises are really the closest living relatives to dinosaurs (well, maybe not relatives as such, but "from that era", whatever that means)

[bc1940]

I think its crocodiles or sharks.  I dont know about tortoises.

[tiffy11]

I don't think torts have changed their basic shape for over 200 million years or something like that. I doubt us humans will last anywhere near that long -  but thats another story!

[bc1940]

I think the photo of the tortoise - head only  its black eyes look like shark eyes so I  am wondering if tortoises are related to sharks in any way and come from dinosaurs originally.

[nova_jo]

Maybe - lots of reptiles have dark eyes though - you wont see a tortoise with blue eyes, thats for sure!

I think pretty much all reptiles are eveolved from the dinosaurs in some way, probably. Don't know the exact link though.