The tortoise is unique because he among the tricksters is slow and plodding. He is used to encourage the children to use their brain, as speed cannot always win the prize.
The Tortoise, or in some countries, the Turtle, also are tricksters.
Jabuti the Tortoise tales are told in the Amazon area. In a porquoi, Jabuti plays a wonderful flute, and Vulture is envious of him. The birds are going to the King of Heaven to sing for him, and Jabuti wants to play for him. Vulture offers to carry him to the heavens, and invites Jabuti to climb on his back and to hang on to his feathers. When they are nearly there, Vulture veers to the side and dumps Jabuti off his back. Jabuti falls to the earth with a crash and his beautiful shell is broken. The birds come down from heaven and patch Jabuti's shell back together. Where the birds touched Jabuti, they each took on a vibrant new color. Toucan got a red and yellow beak; Macaw, bright orange feathers. This is how Tortoise got his patchwork shell. Vulture stayed the same dull color and he still can't sing. (McDermott)