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10 Slowest Animals in the World, Ranked by Speed

The cheetah is the fastest mammal on the globe, capable of reaching speeds of 75 miles per hour and reaching 69.5 miles per hour in three seconds – quicker than an accelerating sports car. But what about the animals on the other end of the spectrum? Some animals on Earth seldom move at all, and when they do, it appears to be in slow motion. Continue reading to learn about ten of the world’s slowest creatures around the globe. Also, you will learn about the speed of these slowest creatures.

10. Banana Slug

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Banana Slugs are considered one of the world’s slowest animal.

The moving speed of banana slugs is around 0.186 miles per hour. This is because they only have one foot that contracts the muscles. Mucus is secreted during these contractions. The mucus transforms into slime, which helps the slug to lubricate its route and travel more easily. They are usually speedier than their Garden Snail relatives because slugs are sluggish. This might be because they don’t have a shell to weigh them down like a Garden Snail.

Banana Slugs can rappel down from great heights. Their tale has a mucus gland, which helps the slug to create a cable to aid in their descent.

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9. Starfish

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The majority of starfish move at a snail’s pace. Some move just approximately 15 millimetres every minute. This equates to about.005 miles per hour. A starfish’s limbs are equipped with unique tubes that allow it to move. However, the starfish may exploit the ocean currents to help it move faster if a starfish wants to go a longer distance, that makes it one of the slowest sea animal.

Did you know there are over 2,000 different types of starfish? A starfish has an eye at the end of each of its limbs, and some have as many as 40 arms. Starfish, despite their name, are not fish. They lack scales, fins, and gills, unlike fish. They belong to the Echinodermata phylum, which includes sea urchins and sand dollars. 

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As with other echinoderms, many starfish have radial symmetry. This means that their bodily components are symmetrical around a central axis. This implies you can’t identify which side of the starfish is the “top” or “left side” is a starfish.

8. Gila monster

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The most poisonous lizards weigh between 350 and 700 kilos and may grow to be 60 centimeters long. They travel at a pace of around 667 millimeters per second. They keep the majority of their food in their bodies, making it difficult for them to travel quickly. Despite being the most poisonous, they pose little harm to humans due to their sluggish pace.

7. Tortoises

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Land tortoises are one of the slowest creatures on the planet because they travel at less than one mile per hour. One explanation for tortoises’ sluggish pace is their nutrition; like herbivores, they do not need to hunt or chase their food. Unfortunately, tortoises also have very sluggish metabolisms, which means they expend less energy. Galapagos tortoises spend a lot of time basking in the sun or resting; their lack of activity, along with vast internal water reservoirs, lets them go a year without drinking or eating.

6. Sloths

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Sloths are also considered as the world’s slowest animals in the world. They can also be called the cutest creatures on the planet. Sloths are so lethargic that their name signifies “sluggishness” or “laziness.” A sloth’s top speed is 0.003 miles per hour. Furthermore, algae grow on them as they move so slowly.

5. Koala Bear

The koala bear (Phascolarctos cinereus), like the sloth, has a high fiber/low nutrition diet and an exceptionally sluggish metabolic rate. Koalas have practically no fat in their bodies and preserve energy in every way they can, including resting and moving slowly.

They have a strong sense of smell but weak eyesight, and they spend most of their time living on trees, eating eucalyptus leaves, and not moving much.

The nocturnal slow loris (Nycticebus) of Southeast Asia is an uncommon species since it is the world’s only poisonous primate. To prevent predators from going after prey, these critters carry poisons in their mouths and elbows, coating their fur with toxins.

4. Slow Loris

This predator protection has allowed the slow loris to evolve into such a sluggish animal, reaching just 1.9 kilometers per hour at top speed and traversing up to 8 kilometers a night. However, like the others on this list, this slow-moving species may strike quickly when it comes into contact with its prey.

This predator protection has allowed the slow loris to evolve into such a sluggish animal, reaching just 1.9 kilometers per hour at top speed and traversing up to 8 kilometers a night. However, this slow-moving species, like the others on this list, may strike quickly when it comes into contact with its prey.

3. American Woodcock

Speed range: 16-28 mph (26-46 km/h). This may appear to be pretty rapid for an animal, however, not for a bird. The American woodcock is the slowest bird you’ll ever see.

Their body form is tiny and heavy, making them unsuitable for aerodynamics! Numerous other insects. Also, they spend most of their time on the ground camouflaged. Additionally, their influence on pest insect populations in agricultural crops is minimal because they are rarely abundant.

2. Sea Anemone

Although sloths are the slowest terrestrial mammals, Sea Anemones are considerably slower. The majority of the time, sea anemones remain linked to rocks or coral. They enjoy hunting for fish or other beautiful creatures that swim around.

They will, however, occasionally shift their stance. According to timelapse photography, Sea Anemones barely move approximately 1 centimeter (about 0.39 inches) each hour! A Sea Anemone moves by softly shifting along on a rock or coral with its pedal disc. They can swim and float as well.

Sea Anemones are invertebrates that capture food with their tentacles.

Their tentacles sting prey and guide them into the Sea Anemone’s mouth. Sea Anemones have the appearance of a flower. Their size can range from 0.5 inches in diameter to 6 feet in diameter. Many have adapted to live in colder water, but the majority of Sea Anemones live in tropical waters.

1. Garden Snails

Did you have any idea that Garden Snails can only move one meter per hour?

This is a speed of approximately.0006 miles per hour! Muscular contractions are used by the garden snail’s boneless foot to move. This produces mucus, or slime, which helps the snail to lubricate its route and travel more easily.

Speed isn’t particularly necessary for snails seeking to escape a predator because of the thick shell on their back. For protection, they may simply withdraw within their shell. The bulkier shell also slows it down.

Conclusion

Consider some of these sluggish creatures and how much faster you are if you ever feel like you’re going too slowly and can’t keep up with the daily grind! Have you ever seen one of these sluggish creatures up close? Were any of the creatures on this list surprising to you? Let us know if your list of the slowest animals matches our list. 

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