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.