Rating of Slow Animals: The Slowest Creatures on the Planet 0 11

5th place

Koalas typically spend most of their lives in trees. During the day, these marsupials sleep, and at night they search for food. However, even if a koala is awake during the day, it will not actively explore its surroundings. This animal simply sits still on a branch! It is believed that koalas remain in this state for 16-18 hours a day.

The reason for such slowness lies in their diet. Koalas feed exclusively on eucalyptus leaves, which are low in nutrients, so they simply do not have excess energy. Nevertheless, if a koala needs to move to another tree or feels threatened, it can exhibit surprising speed.

4th place

Undoubtedly, our ranking would not be complete without land tortoises! Their speed does not exceed 1.5 kilometers per hour, making them some of the slowest animals on the planet. The reason for their leisurely lifestyle is also related to their diet. Tortoises are herbivores, so they do not need to hunt or chase food, and their slow metabolism requires fewer calories and energy.

For example, Galápagos tortoises often spend time basking in the sun and hardly move at all! The lack of activity combined with large water reserves in their bodies allows them to survive for up to a year without food and water.

3rd place

Garden snails (Cornu aspersum) are nocturnal creatures. They are most active in spring, summer, and autumn when the weather is warm and humid. They can be found in shaded areas, such as under rocks or in bushes. Although it may be difficult to spot a snail, if you succeed, you will have plenty of time to observe it! They move at a speed of about 1 centimeter per second, so a snail simply cannot crawl far.

The slowness of these creatures is explained by the so-called “foot,” a part of the body that extends from the shell and is essentially one large muscle. Additionally, the snail does not need to move quickly to escape from predators, as it can always hide in its shell.

2nd place

At first glance, it may seem that starfish are completely immobile! However, they actually move along the sea floor at a speed of 10 centimeters per minute. This slowness is explained by the fact that their prey is also not very fast. Starfish feed on mussels, corals, oysters, and mollusks, as well as injured or dead fish.

1st place

In 2016, scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, declared the three-toed sloth the slowest mammal on Earth! This little creature spends most of its life eating, sleeping, and resting.

Like koalas, sloths have a not very nutritious diet. Moreover, they have an extremely slow metabolism, which allows them to conserve energy. These animals spend most of their time in the treetops of the jungle. They rarely encounter predators, so there is no need for them to move quickly. On average, sloths move at a speed of two meters per minute (3 m/min between trees, 1.5 m/min on the ground).