A snail takes nearly a day to travel a kilometer, topping the list of the slowest animals in the world.
Top Slowest Animals in the World
Snail
The snail is the slowest animal in the world, moving at a maximum speed of 1.3 cm per second. This means it takes over 21 hours to travel one kilometer. (Image: 10 Most Today).
Three-Toed Sloth
Despite its larger size, the three-toed sloth is just as sluggish as the snail. It can reach a maximum speed of 2 meters per minute, or 0.12 km/h. (Image: Christian Mehlführer).
Starfish
According to 10 Most Today, there are about 1,500 species of starfish in the world, but most cannot move quickly. While some starfish can move at 15 cm per minute, others, like the sand starfish, can reach speeds of 2.8 meters per minute. (Image: 10 Most Today)
Giant Tortoise
As the slowest reptile on the planet, the giant tortoise averages about 300 kg in weight. Its heavy weight is the main reason for its slow movement. (Image: Wikipedia.)
Koala
This cute animal hails from Australia and, like the sloth, moves very slowly. (Image: Benjamint444).
Slug
The slug resembles a snail but lacks a shell. It also moves very slowly, with the slowest recorded speed of 0.3 km/h. (Image: 10 Most Today).
Seahorse
With 54 species, seahorses range in size from 1.5 to 35.5 cm. They swim upright and are the slowest swimming fish in the world, with a maximum speed of 1.5 meters per hour. (Image: 10 Most Today)
Gila Monster
The Gila monster is a very slow-moving lizard. It can grow up to 60 cm long and weigh about 350 – 700 g. It moves at a speed of about 0.6 cm per second. This species is the only venomous lizard native to the U.S. and one of two venomous lizards in North America. However, due to its slow movement, it poses little danger to humans. (Image: 10 Most Today).
Manatee
A warm-water marine mammal, the manatee can grow up to 4 meters long and weigh 590 kg. Manatees use their four limbs like paddles, which results in their slow movement. (Image: Ahodges7).
Dove
As the slowest bird in the world, the dove has a flight speed of 8 km/h, holding the record for the slowest flight among birds. (Image: Matt MacGillivray).
Slow Loris
The slow loris is a medium-sized primate native to Southeast Asia. They have hands similar to humans and move very slowly, with an adult slow loris having a speed of about 2 km/h. In addition, they are venomous, and a bite can be harmful to humans.
Banana Slug
The banana slug is a type of mollusk. They move by contracting their bodies, allowing them to travel at a speed of only 0.32 km/h. They spend most of their time eating and laying eggs. Occasionally, banana slugs can move a considerable distance thanks to ocean currents.
Sea Anemone
The sea anemone (Actiniaria) is related to corals and jellyfish, with over 1,000 species exhibiting various shapes, sizes, and colors. This animal prefers to hunt by waiting for fish to swim by close enough to catch them. They can move around using a foot known as the basal disc. When threatened, during predation challenges, or when environmental conditions change, sea anemones will move, but their speed is only about 1 cm per hour. This may be considered the slowest moving animal in the world.
