The Slowest Animal in the World and 15 Fellow Slowpokes

You know the going is slow when we're measuring meters per hour, not kilometers per hour.

1. Banana Slug

With a sluggish pace of just 0.007 miles (10 meters) per hour, the banana slug is one of the slowest creatures on land. Found in damp forests of North America, these slow-moving creatures play a crucial role in decomposing plant material.

2. Garden Snail

Another famous slow-moving animal, the garden snail, travels at a mere 0.03 miles (50 meters) per hour. These creatures glide on a layer of mucus, which helps them move and protect their soft bodies from rough surfaces.

3. Three-toed Sloth

Famous for its incredibly slow movements, the three-toed sloth moves at an average speed of just 0.15 miles (24 meters) per hour. Native to Central and South America, this animal spends most of its life hanging upside down in trees.

4. Giant Tortoise

Giant tortoises reach an average speed of just 0.2 miles (32 meters) per hour. These ancient reptiles, found in places like the Galápagos Islands, live up to 100 years or more.

5. Slow Loris

The slow loris lives up to its name with its slow, deliberate movements. Native to Southeast Asia, this nocturnal primate has a venomous bite and uses its stillness to remain undetected by predators.

6. Gila Monster

The Gila monster, one of the world's few venomous lizards, moves at a leisurely pace of about 0.4 miles (064 meters) per hour. Its slow speed is partly due to its need to conserve energy in the arid deserts of the southwestern United States.

7. Starfish

While technically an aquatic creature, some starfish species that venture into intertidal zones are remarkably slow on land. They inch along at such a slow pace, their movement is almost imperceptible. They rely on tube feet for movement.

The world's slowest animals don't exactly speed up in the water.

1. Sponge

Sea sponges are technically sessile animals, meaning they are permanently attached to a substrate and do not move independently. Their movement is nearly imperceptible as they slowly expand or contract. They rely on water flow to carry nutrients to them, rather than active motion.

2. Sea Anemone

Sea anemones are some of the slowest creatures in the water, moving at a nearly stationary pace. They primarily remain anchored to rocks, relying on currents to bring food their way.

3. Giant Clam

Giant clams may be among the largest shellfish in the ocean, but they are nearly immobile. They spend their lives rooted to coral reefs, filtering plankton from the water.

4. Seahorse

Seahorses are famous for their slow speed, traveling at an average of about 0.01 miles (16 meters) per hour. Their leisurely pace helps them blend into their surroundings and avoid predators.

5. Nudibranch

These brightly colored sea slugs move at a sluggish pace as they graze on algae and sponges. Their slow movements make them fascinating to observe up close.

6. Jellyfish

While jellyfish can pulse their bodies to move, their pace is generally slow as they drift with ocean currents. This slow movement is an energy-efficient way to travel.

7. Green Sea Turtle

Green sea turtles' average speed while cruising is a modest 1.5 miles (2.41 kilometers) per hour.

We're not counting animals that glide slowly because they're often capable of flying at much higher speeds.

1. Woodcock

The woodcock is one of the slowest flying birds, with an average speed of just 5 miles (8 kilometers) per hour during courtship flights.

2. Butterfly

Butterflies, depending on the species, can fly at speeds as slow as 5 miles (8 kilometers) per hour. Their slow movements are often part of their graceful, erratic flight patterns.

We created this article with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.