Everywhere you look, everywhere reviews of the most quick, graceful and hardy animals. And who will talk about other representatives of the fauna, which, perhaps, have their own shortcomings, but remain just as cute and necessary for our nature.
For example, the symbol of Australia, smelling of eucalyptus koala, is one of the slowest animals on the planet. But this does not prevent her from being a favorite of tourists, always ready for hugging.
Today we will get to know a dozen clumsy, awkward and slow animals. We will also find out exactly what reasons prevent them from developing normal speed for movement.
10. American woodcock
It would seem that birds cannot be slow - they use wings to move over considerable distances, sometimes making flights unique in duration. But nevertheless, among the birds there are their own “champions”.
For example, the American woodcock shows the slowest bird flight recorded by scientists - only 8 kilometers per hour or, according to other estimates, 222 cm per second.
The bird itself is small, and despite its slowness, it has another valuable skill: high-set large eyes can expand the field of view. Maybe a woodcock is not so much slow as dispersed? After all, he can contemplate more along the way than other feathered representatives.
9. Manatee
And this is a representative of the water world. Sea cow, as an aquatic mammal, has a fairly large size - up to 4 meters in length and about 550 kg of live weight.
Of course, moving with such a mass in water with high resistance is not easy. The manatee helps with an oar-shaped tail and a little modest in comparison with the total volumes of flippers.
The animal realizes that it develops a speed of the order of 200 cm second, therefore, it tries to dwell in shallow water and not migrate for considerable distances. He lives himself settled, chewing weed - where to rush?
8. Toadtooth
It is necessary to mention the reptile - a large cute monster, which has the second name "Gila Monster". Its size, as a rule, does not exceed 60 cm, and its weight can reach 0.7 kg.
The lizard lives in America and is, as you guessed from the name, poisonous. Of course, she still needs to manage to get a bite, because she moves at a speed of 667 cm per second. Yes, and the animal eats only 10 times a year, so it is rarely interested in prey.
7. Seahorse
Scientists already know about 54 species of seahorses from the smallest 1.5 cm to 35.5 cm representatives.
Skates swim, as you know, vertically, so the resistance of water to them acts noticeably. Therefore, these aquatic inhabitants do not reach speeds of more than one and a half meters per hour, for which they received the title of the slowest fish on Earth.
According to other estimates, the movement of bony needle-shaped skates reaches 0.04 cm per second. Of course, they do not possess the speed of the horses, but they nevertheless remain very attractive and interesting for research.
6. Slug
These defenseless "snails without a house" so amuse children and so oppress gardeners. Nevertheless, the slug will not run away if you chase after it, therefore it is important only to notice them on time in culture.
The “snail mountain” “winds” only 0.3 kilometers per hour - and this is also the maximum recorded speed! Power slug does not consider it necessary to succumb to the bustle, therefore, proudly dissecting in the vineyards at its low speed.
5. Koala
A pretty marsupial koala sits almost all its life on the branches of eucalyptus trees, enthusiastically eating leaves. A slow animal can swim well and even gallop, but prefers to move as little as possible, hovering in one position for up to 18 hours a day!
In the afternoon, lazy mammals even relax or just apathetically hold on to the branch with their long claws. At night, the koala is ready to show "activity" and move a little along the tree, eating fragrant leaves along the way. In this case, the highest speed that the animal develops was recorded at around 447 centimeters per second.
4. Giant Tortoise
The fact that turtles are a symbol of slowness, we know from childhood. But they never thought which of the many centenarians of our planet is the slowest. The leader is still a giant tortoise, which can live up to 190 years, almost in no hurry.
Still, the weight of 300 kg must be managed to be worn, especially moving along the coastal sand. The legs of the turtle are not suitable for running - short, resemble pillars. The speed of movement is not more than 76 cm per second, but this is a good indicator.
3. Starfish
Another marine representative, which is slow. Of course, he moves a little faster than snails or sloths, but still the maximum speed does not exceed 2.8 meters per minute. There are about 1,500 starfish in the world, some of which are more active than others.
One of the slowest species is Dermasterias imbricata, capable of overpowering just 15 centimeters of water in a minute. The highest speed is developed by a sandy starfish - it is precisely its indicator that amounts to 0.168 km per hour.
2. Sloth
This cozy, funny and unique animal is one of the most clumsy and lazy on the planet. The glorious sloth loves to hang in one position for several hours, and they sleep 15 hours a day, not at all ashamed.
The highest speed that this animal is capable of developing reaches only 2 meters per minute. A slow and sluggish mammal is forced to save energy - it, like a koala, eats leaves, but they do not provide the necessary energy for active movements.
The average speed of the three-toed sloth is 3 centimeters per second. But this really has to be matched!
1. Garden snail
The snail is always mentioned in various parables, allegories and proverbs, as a symbol of slowness. What to do - that's how it is organized.
She rightfully gets the first place in slowness in our review, since the maximum speed that she can develop does not exceed 1.3 centimeters per second.
If you count, it can take as long as 21 hours to complete a kilometer from an unfortunate garden snail. Think a few times before taking a snail for photography or to show children!
To return to the bush, where she lived peacefully, it will take several long hours of active movement. But the snail moves, in fact, on the lower surface of its only leg, and even drags a whole house on its back!
Here is such an informative review today. Animals, like humans, have their own talents or skills. And slowness does not always mean laziness or clumsiness.