You might be very familiar with the fastest animals in the world, such as cheetahs. However, there are also very slow creatures who barely move compared to others. Do you know any? Maybe not the one I have in mind. And that’s why I came up with a list of the slowest animals in the world.
1. Starfish
Starfish, also referred to as sea stars, is the slowest animal in the world. It can move at a pace of a metre per minute. They have tiny feet that help them grasp the ground to move around. Starfish can be found in both deep and shallow water. They do not have a skeleton but a body composed of calcium carbonate plates known as “ossicles”. They do not have a brain or blood but a nervous system. This animal has five or more arms and can be quite large.
2. Snail
Snail has a muscular organ that enables it to move extremely slowly. For it to move efficiently, the snail releases mucus in order to reduce friction and to allow it to crawl very well over a rough surface, most especially to help their body from drying out. They have organs of both sexes, which makes them a hermaphrodite.
3. Tortoise
The most famous species of tortoise that lives on land is the Galapagos tortoise; which can live up to 150 years. They are very active during the day but slow-moving because of their slow metabolic rate. The shell of a tortoise is part of its bone structure and protects it from prey. The shell is a good absorber of heat from the sun — tortoise need this to survive because they are cold-blooded.
4. Manatee
Manatee, also known as sea cow, can be a little bit speedy compared to other slow animals but it is still usually slow. They weigh like 3,500 pounds and are up to 13 feet long. Manatees are herbivores; they feed on saltwater plants and freshwater. They are usually found in shallow coastal areas.
5. Three-toed Sloth
Due to their low metabolic rate, Three-Toed Sloths barely move. They spend days on treetops, feeding on fruits, shoots, and leaves. Their long arms enable them to reach a wider space without much movement. Sloths sleep between 15 and 20 hours every day. When on land, they use their claws to dig, and their belly and front legs to drag themselves along.
6. Gila Monster
Gila Monster is a type of venomous lizard — it is the slowest lizard in the world. They live underground, hunt less, and store more fat in their bodies. They are heavy-bodied lizards with bead-like scales. The monster could be pink or black and yellow. They walk on their shirt legs with their tail off the ground, swinging it from right to left.
7. Koala
Koala has an extreme metabolic rate. They have the power to save energy by moving slowly and sleeping. When not sleeping, they’re likely eating. They have a strong digestive system to break down toxins after eating eucalyptus trees.
8. Banana Slug
Banana slug has one muscular foot that enables it to move. They slowly crawl with the help of mucus. Slug has a single lung with an external breathing pore. It eats with a tongue covered with rows of microscopic teeth. When the environment is too hot or dry they dwell in a shady shelter.
9. Dugong
Dugong live in coastal waters. They have a very slow swimming speed. Seagrass is their primary source of food. Dugong and manatees are similar in appearance but the former’s tail looks like that of a whale. Their tale is used for standing with the head above the water.
10. Dwarf Seahorse
Dwarf Seahorse is a type of fish with a horse-like head. Their bladders enable them to swim, using gills to breathe. Seahorses are tough for other fish to swallow because of their bony bodies. They do not have natural predators other than crustaceans. Ritual dance is a way for seahorses to greet each other.
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