5 animals that cannot run and why

We often associate animals with speed and those creatures who hunt down their prey, just like cheetahs or Lions, or maybe just horses galloping in the fields. But not every creature in the animal kingdom is built for running. Many animals either move very slowly or have adapted to get around in completely different ways. Some lack the body parts needed for running altogether, while others simply don’t need speed to survive.

Each species has developed special ways to survive even without the ability to run. For some, staying still is actually safer than trying to flee. For others, slow and steady really does win the survival race.

Here are five animals that can’t run

Sloths are famously slow and physically incapable of running. Native to Central and South America, they spend most of their lives hanging upside down in trees. Their long, curved claws and weak leg muscles make running impossible. So , sloths base themselves on camouflage and slow movements to avoid predators. On the ground, they move at a speed of just 0.03 miles per hour. They only come down from trees once a week to poop!

Snails can’t run, hop, or even walk. These soft-bodied animals glide on a muscular foot, using mucus to move smoothly across surfaces. Their maximum speed is about 0.03 miles per hour. Since they carry their homes (shells) on their backs and lack legs altogether, running simply isn’t part of their movement repertoire. Snails depend on their hard shells for protection and are most active at night or in moist environments to avoid drying out.

Also known as starfish, sea stars are marine animals that cannot run or swim like fish. Instead, they crawl slowly using hundreds of tiny tube feet located on the underside of their arms. Sea stars lack bones and a central brain, and their movement is supported by a water vascular system. Their average speed is around 0.01 meters per second, making them one of the slowest creatures in the sea.

Turtles, especially land-dwelling tortoises, are quite slow and totally not capable of running. Their heavy, domed shells give them excellent protection but limit movement. Their short, sturdy legs aren’t made for quick escapes. Instead, turtles have a “slow and steady” approach to life. While some aquatic turtles can swim fairly quickly, running on land isn’t something any turtle does well. The average tortoise moves at less than 0.2 miles per hour.

Still, their unhurried pace is part of their charm. Tortoises don’t rush—they conserve energy, live long lives, and seem to move through the world with quiet confidence. In a way, their slowness reminds us to slow down too, and take life one careful step at a time.

Earthworms are invertebrates with long, segmented bodies but no limbs. Running isn’t even a possibility for them. Instead, they contract and expand their muscles to move through soil, helping aerate and enrich the ground in the process. Earthworms move at a pace of around 27 feet per hour. Their survival depends on staying underground, avoiding predators, and contributing to the health of ecosystems.