Is Lapras a turtle?

[Supreme Leader Palpitoad]

I tried to discuss it on another thread but it was off topic so I will post a thread for it here. Are Lapras a turtle or not?

 

[Thunder Stone]

I've never really thought about it. Now that you mention it kinda does look like a turtle, so I guess so.

 

[L.L.]

It be not thy turtle.
1) Shell only covers back
2) Can't learn shell moves (withdraw, she'll smash) like most turtles
3) Never shown diving like sea turtles

 

[TheCableGuy]

It's a hard-shelled Plesiosaur.

Any similarity to turtles is coincidental.

 

[Supreme Leader Palpitoad]

IT IS A FREAKING TURTLE!!!!
1. IT HAS SHELL
2. IT IS BLUE
3. IT CAN SWIM
THAT MAKES IT A TURTLE!!!!

 

[L.L.]

IT IS A FREAKING TURTLE!!!!
1. IT HAS SHELL
2. IT IS BLUE
3. IT CAN SWIM
THAT MAKES IT A TURTLE!!!!

According to your logic, shellder is also a turtle.

 

[Iteru]

We don't need caps, fyi.

While Laplace isn't really giving any clues, Nessy, the original English name, is ridiculously obvious as a reference to the Loch Ness monster which is never envisioned as a turtle.

 

[garrison-san]

^ Correct. The Loch Ness Monster is usually depicted as a form of plesiosaurus, which Lapras resembles.

 

[Supreme Leader Palpitoad]

IT IS A FREAKING TURTLE!!!!
1. IT HAS SHELL
2. IT IS BLUE
3. IT CAN SWIM
THAT MAKES IT A TURTLE!!!!

According to your logic, shellder is also a turtle.

Lapras also has the body form of a sea turtle. Shellder has the body form of... ehhh ... I do not know.

 

[L.L.]

I believe I have won.
Shellder looks like...a shell maybe?

 

[Supreme Leader Palpitoad]

I believe I have won.
Shellder looks like...a shell maybe?

How did that make you win?

 

[garrison-san]

Lapras is a Plesiosaurus/Scottish cryptozoological creature, Shellder is a clam. That's pretty much all there is to it.

 

[Supreme Leader Palpitoad]

OK guys you win. Lapras is a plesiosaurus.