In today's fast-paced and efficiency-driven society, some animals still live at their own leisurely pace. Have you ever wondered what the slowest animals in the world are? Why are they so slow? This article will introduce you to 15 of the slowest animals on Earth, and explore their lifestyles, habitats, and adaptations.
1. Garden snail (Helix aspersa)
The garden snail, also known as the European snail, is a common lung snail-like mollusc that can reach up to 8 centimeters in length. They are primarily nocturnal and prefer damp environments, being most active on rainy days. Their maximum speed is 0.05 kilometers per hour, equivalent to only about one meter per hour, making them one of the slowest animals in the world.
2. Three-toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus)
Sloths are known for their slow movements; the three-toed sloth is found in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins. It can crawl about 5 kilometers a day, moving about 2 meters per minute. Although it walks very slowly, it is an excellent swimmer, and its slow metabolism allows it to stay attached to trees for extended periods, even using moss to camouflage itself.
3. Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Koalas are marsupials endemic to Australia, known for their slow and languid nature. While they can be quite agile when climbing trees, they generally move at a speed of only 5 meters per second, with a maximum speed of 20 kilometers per hour. Due to habitat destruction, koalas are currently listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
4. Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
This tortoise lives in the Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean and is the second largest tortoise in the world, after the Galapagos tortoise. It can weigh up to 250 kilograms and live for over 270 years. It can walk at a speed of 45 meters per minute, but still actively searches for plant-based foods every day.
5. Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
The loggerhead sea turtle, also known as the hawksbill sea turtle or red sea turtle, is a species of sea turtle widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea. It can reach a length of 120 cm, weigh up to 159 kg, and have a lifespan of up to 150 years. Its swimming speed is approximately 0.04 km/h, making it one of the slowest marine animals.
6. Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus)
This shark, which lives in the frigid waters of the Arctic, is one of the longest-lived vertebrates known, living up to 500 years. Due to its slow movement, it is also known as the "sleeping shark," swimming at a speed of only 0.34 meters per second. Some individuals are blind due to parasites, making them even slower.
7. Tiger beetle (Cicindelinae)
Although known as one of the fastest insects in the world, the tiger beetle is actually the slowest predator due to its "visual delay." They can run at speeds up to 2.5 meters per second, but because their eyes cannot process images quickly enough, they often "miss" their prey.
8. Dwarf Slow-moving Monkey (Nycticebus pygmaeus)
This small primate inhabits bamboo forests and tropical rainforests in China, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. They move exceptionally slowly, typically only 30 meters per minute. Despite their adorable appearance, their bite is mildly venomous. Due to illegal hunting and habitat loss, they are listed as vulnerable.
9. Manatee (Trichechus spp.)
Manatees, also known as "sea cows," are gentle, herbivorous marine mammals. They can reach 4 to 6 meters in length and weigh up to 500 kilograms. They swim slowly in the water, searching for seaweed to feed on, at a speed of only about 30 kilometers per hour. Their main enemies are humans and killer whales.
10. Giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea)
The giant pangolin is the largest species of pangolin, mainly distributed in Africa, and feeds on ants and termites. It can reach 140 cm in length and weigh up to 33 kg. Although not a good runner, it has an extremely sensitive nose. Its top speed is 5 km/h.
11. Scolopax minor
This is a wading bird that lives in the forests and scrublands of North America, known for its extremely slow flight speed, only 8 kilometers per hour. They roost at night, making them difficult to spot, and their long, slender beaks help them catch earthworms underground.
12. Heloderma suspectum
The gilar is one of the few venomous lizards in the world, inhabiting arid regions of Mexico and the United States. It measures approximately 35–60 cm in length and weighs up to 1 kg. Although venomous, it is docile and slow-moving, only able to run at a speed of 24 km/h.
13. Seahorse (Hippocampus spp.)
Seahorses are slender fish, with a maximum length not exceeding 29 centimeters. They swim extremely slowly, only managing to move 300 centimeters per minute. Seahorses lack teeth and a stomach, using their long snouts to prey on small crustaceans. Most interestingly, they reproduce through a process where the male is responsible for carrying the pregnancy to term.
14. Starfish (Asteroidea)
There are as many as 2,000 species of starfish, the most common of which have five arms, while some species, such as the Antarctic starfish, have up to 50. They move extremely slowly, only 94 meters per hour, and have an extremely strong regenerative ability—a severed arm can regenerate and even become a new individual.
15. Banana slug (Ariolimax dolichophallus)
Native to North America, the banana slug is known for its yellow body. It can grow up to 25 centimeters long, weigh 115 grams, and live up to 7 years. It can glide at a speed of less than 80 centimeters per minute and has a radula, a small, tooth-like structure in its mouth, used to feed on plant debris.
If you are interested in more interesting characteristics of wild animals, please visit our website's "Wildlife" category to read more related articles.
References
Lang, H. (2017). These 30 photos showcase the slowest animals. National Geographic. Accessible: https://www.nationalgeographic.es/animales/2017/07/los-animales-mas-lentos-del-mundo-adidivinas-que-animal-se-mueve-poco-mas-de-1
Woinarski, J. & Burbidge, AA (2020). Grey-necked Koala (2016 Assessment Revised Edition). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T16892A166496779. Accessible at: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T16892A166496779.en.
