origin of "tortoiseshell"?

Ok, so, tortoiseshell cats, right? We all know what they look like (example pictures below). So where did the "tortoiseshell" name come from? Are there actual tortoises out there whose shells look like the black-and-orange patterns of a tortie's fur?

According Wikipedia, Tortoiseshell is a material produced mainly from the shell of the hawksbill turtle, an endangered species. If you look at the picture on the page, you will see a piece made of tortoiseshell and it looks very much like the tortoiseshell pattern on cats.

Note: the more white a cat has, the more separated the colors and is known as a calico in the US.

Thanks for the link.

And now I wonder where the name "calico" came from.

Best we looked up Calico next

Originally Posted by DeeDeeMay

Best we looked up Calico next

Click to expand...

Well, it's on TCS!

http://www.thecatsite.com/Snips/200/Calico-Cats.html

Although I didn't see anywhere in there that it said where the name "calico" comes from. I know "calico" is also the name of a type of cloth, although I don't know if that's related.