Turtles and tortoises are both reptiles. They came from the order Chelonia. Aside from being protected by their shells, they also have strong and sharp beaks. Their jaws can also provide a powerful bite if needed. Turtles can be found in almost every part of the world except Antarctica where it’s freezing cold.
These tough creatures are the oldest reptiles that ever lived. Their shells provide the protection they need. Predators can sometimes overpower them. That’s why they also need to escape. But the problem is, turtles are not the fastest animal especially on land. How fast or slow turtles move can be a matter of life and death for them.
Although turtles are slow on land, they can move slightly faster when they are in the water. They can swim between 10 to 12 mph but when they walk, it will be at 3 to 4 mph. It’s not a huge difference but it helps them to survive all this time. Aquatic turtles are great swimmers so they can easily escape predators when they are near the water.
But which is faster, tortoise or turtle? If you’re wondering about the speed of these creatures, you’re in luck. In this article, we will cover the speed of movements of these reptiles. They are both tough because of their shells. But is that the reason why they are moving too slow or there are other reasons behind their slow movements?
Which is Faster, Tortoise or Turtle?
In comparison, turtles are faster compared to tortoises even on land. Tortoises came from the genus Gopherus. They can only move the speed between 0m12 to 0m30 mph. An aquatic cooler speed was recorded to be 1.07 mph. The speed test made for a male giant tortoise only covered 15 feet in 43.5 seconds.
Terrestrial tortoises may walk slowly but they can catch up with humans walking speed. They don’t go fast even when they’re in a rush. A typical tortoise will take an hour to walk a city block. They’re slower than turtles even if they race on land. Their shells are the reason why they walk at such a slow pace.
When swimming, turtles use their slippers as paddlers. The giant sea turtles are the most efficient undersea paddles around. They look helpless when they come to lay their eggs on land. But when they are in the sea, they are fast and can reach speeds of 10 knots. Sea turtles are also agile when swimming.
Turtles don’t like cold temperatures since it will be hard for them to survive. Cold weather will force them to hibernate. It will slow down their metabolism and put them in a long slumber. It’s how they survive during the winter but if the temperature is always that cold, they will not be able to survive.
Is a Turtle Faster Than a Snail?
Yes, turtles are faster than snails since they have legs unlike them. Snails can’t move faster since they don’t have feet as turtles do. They also just glide with the lower part of their bodies which makes them slow. Turtles are faster than snails because they have different physical features.
An average turtle can move around 1.07 miles per hour on land. When they are in the water, they can swim faster. The average garden snail can only move at 0.03 miles per hour. That’s a huge difference between their speed when it comes to moving around.
When they go on a race, the snail will be left behind by the turtle. Snails can’t go any faster than their usual speed. Even though snails can be this slow, they are not still the slowest animal in the world. The sloth is the slowest animal that you can ever find around.
It may not seem like it but turtles are faster than snails. That’s because they can run if they have a reason to do so. Snails don’t have a choice because they can’t pick up their pace. They have to drag themselves to move from one place to another. Therefore, turtles can move faster because they have feet that they can use to walk or even run.
Who is Slower, a Turtle, or a Sloth?
Turtles are faster than sloths but not so much. They can go on land at a mile per hour and 1.5 miles when they are in the water. Turtle’s are adaptive creatures and they are everywhere except Antarctica. They like warmer climates since basking is essential for their health and wellbeing.
Sloths are a very slow type of animal and they are the slowest around the world. Their name means laziness or sluggishness. The fastest they can move is 0.003 miles per hour. That’s very slow compared with turtles. Sloths also have algae growing on them because of their very slow movements.
Turtles may be slow on land but they can move faster when they are in the water. Sloths can’t be underwater or they will drown. They are very slow and don’t usually move if they don’t have the reason to do so. Turtles move from the water ti on land ti bask. Although they ain’t have to move fast because of their protective shell.
What is the Fastest Turtle?
The fastest turtle around is the leatherback sea turtle. They happen to also be the largest turtle in the world. Due to their size, they bear the heaviest clutches of eggs as well. They can migrate further than any other turtle species. The leatherback turtle happens to also be the fastest-growing reptile.
When they reach adulthood, they can weigh as much as 1,300 lbs. They can dive deep in the ocean like whales which are about 4,000 feet underwater. The leatherback is one of the widest-ranging vertebrates. They can be found all over Newfoundland, Norway, New Zealand, Argentina, and South Africa.
The leatherback turtles don’t have scales, clairesz, and horny shells. That’s their distinctive feature from other sea turtles. Their shells look like hard rubber, unlike other turtle shells. It’s best for deep diving since it compresses and does not shatter due to the pressure when it’s deep underwater.
Although they are huge, the leatherback turtles can’t hunt. They have weak and scissor-like jaws which are not good for hunting. Instead, they feed on jellyfish that are made of mostly water. Eating jellyfish made them grow faster than other turtle species. They can reach their adult size between 7 to 13 years.
How to Protect the Leatherback Sea Turtle?
Unfortunately, the leatherback sea turtle is already a critically endangered species. They are on the brink of extinction, especially the leatherbacks in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Their threat of becoming extinct is because of different factors. These are beach erosion, coastal development, egg harvesting, and accidental entanglement in fishing equipment.
To help conserve the leatherback turtles, conservancy agencies are partnering with their local governments. That includes the local organizations and businesses. It’s being done worldwide such as TNC partnering with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This will help to protect and conserve these turtles in Sandy Point, Virgin Islands.
The Conservancy’s Blowing Rocks Preserve in Florida is a famous breeding ground for different sea turtle species. That includes the leatherback turtles. There’s a team of Conservancy staff that works during the nesting season. It will ensure the safe passage of hatchlings so they can return to the sea. This program was able to help and release hundreds of turtles over the years.
You can also help by volunteering in these organizations to save sea turtles. But a simple act of avoiding the beaches during the nesting seasons can help a lot. That includes avoiding the use of plastic products since it ends up in the sea. Rescuing a turtle in case you encounter one will also help to save their kind.
Are All Turtles Slow?
Most turtles move slow not because they don’t have a choice. It happens because their environment and lifestyle don’t have to be fast-paced. They don’t have to chase their food like other animals since they are herbivores. Their thick and strong shells turn off most predators from targeting them.
Turtle’s don’t need to hunt and they don’t need to run away from predators. That’s why they evolved to be slow. It’s also one reason why turtles can live for a long time. Not only are their movements slow but also their metabolism. They are one of the longest-lived vertebrates in the world.
Due to their slow movements, they don’t consume too much energy. That means they can survive even without food for a long time. Being slow also avoids injuries such as broken bones, bruises, strains, and more. There’s no reason for them to rush so they keep up their slow speed instead.
The turtle shell also contributes to their slow movements. Evolutionary anthropologists think that the pre-shell turtles are faster than before. But when they developed their shells, they already had their protection from predators. That decreases the turtle’s range of motion significantly. Their shells are heavy for them to be running around the land.
Read more > Are Sea Turtles Slow? (Types with Pictures)
How Fast Can a Tortoise Run?
Tortoises can run between the speed of 0.05 to p.13 meters per second. That’s about 0.03 to 0.13 miles per hour. Their running speed also depends on the species and their surroundings. Tortoises don’t have to run most of the time unless they have a reason.
When walking, tortoises will always maintain a slow pace. They like taking their time since they don’t need to walk fast anyway. But these creatures can run faster. When they sense danger, they will speed up their pace. They can make their escape easily. Tortoise will also run fast if they see the food they like.
1. Leopard Tortoise
Speed: 0.28 m/s or 1 km/h
The leopard tortoise is the fastest of other tortoise species. Their walking speed is 0.3 miles per hour. Bertie is a leopard tortoise that holds the record of being the fastest tortoise in the world. It may seem to be slow by human standards but it’s very fast when it comes to tortoises. They don’t usually walk this fast.
2. African Spurred Tortoise (Sulcata Tortoise)
Speed: 0.05 to 0.134 m/s (0.13 to 0.3 mile per hour)
The Sulcata tortoise is the third biggest species of tortoises. They are known to be slow travelers. Their bulky bodies seem to slow them whether they are walking or running. This tortoise species can run at 0.3 miles per hour speed. Although they can’t keep it up since they will be too tired.
3. Gopher Tortoise
Speed: 0.05 to 0.134 m/s (0.13 to 0.3 mile per hour)
The Gopher tortoise is not that big like other tortoise species. But they are slower than the Leopard tortoises. That means the size or bulkiness is not responsible for being slow when it comes to tortoises. These tortoises move slowly as if they are always chilling and relaxing while walking.
4. Indian Star Tortoise
Speed: 0.14 m/s (0.05 Km/h)
The Indian Star tortoise has a maximum running speed of 0.14 m/s. They can’t go any faster than that. It will be slower when they are walking. Like other tortoise species, they seem to walk like they don’t care. They have a hard shell to protect them anyway.
5. Russian Tortoise
Speed: 2.2 m/s (8 Km/h)
The Russian tortoise’s speed seems to be unbelievable. Tortoises usually walk and even run at a slow pace. But these tortoises can move this fast especially when they’re running from something. Although they don’t walk fast all the time, they can run faster when in danger. That makes them faster compared to other common tortoise species.
How Fast is a Softshell Turtle?
The softshell turtles can run at a speed of 15 miles per hour. That’s faster compared to other turtle species that usually have 3 miles per hour when they are agitated. They have a flexible shell that lets them move with ease. Their shells allow them to move fast in the water or muddy lake bottoms and on land.
They don’t have horny scutes or scales. But they have spiny softshells and some scale-like projections. Their carapace looks leathery and pliable, especially on the sides. The center of their carapace has a layer of bone. Other turtle species have dermal bones but are not attached to the bones of their shell.
The softshell turtles have webbed feet and are three-clawed. The color of their carapace seems to also match the mud or sand based on its location. Not only does it help them to escape their predators easily, but it makes them catch their prey with little to no effort. Their prey will not even notice them around.
Although softshell turtles are not aggressive, they can attack when agitated. They’ll move fast and land it in water that comes with a powerful jaw. It’s designed to crush mollusks as their prey. Their mouth is covered by sharp ridges and their bite can cut deep to the bone. They will not have an issue defending themselves because of that.
Are Tortoises or Turtles Slow?
Tortoises and turtles are slow-moving creatures. The reason is that they don’t have to chase their food anymore. Unlike other animals, they are herbivores. They prefer to eat plants that don’t move around like other animals. Although they have natural predators, they don’t need to run away from them anymore because of their shells.
Having tough shells made them less scared of predators. Most of their predators just leave them and don’t bother. Turtle’s ecological adaptation and biological makeup make it hard for them to move fast. If they walk faster than usual, it can fall or flip over their backs which is fatal for them. It can also injure the turtles and moving slowly is better.
Another reason why turtles move slowly is because of their slow metabolism. The rate of metabolism can determine the speed. It means that the faster the metabolism, the faster the speed of movement. But faster metabolism can lead to accelerated aging. Turtles produce less unhealthy metabolic products that will lead to aging. That’s why they can live longer compared to humans.
Turtles can live for 300 years or even longer because of their slow metabolism. That’s why they are also a sign of longevity. Turtles can survive the harshest conditions. Unlike other animals, they don’t have to rush living their life. They take their sweet time since they have a few centuries left in their lifespan. Moving slowly also avoids the risks of injury.
Do Tortoises Move Fast?
Tortoises don’t move fast not because they can’t go any faster. Their average speed is only 0.2 miles per hour. Although there’s footage from China that shows how tortoises can move fast. Tortoises will pick up their pace when food is involved. When they like the food that they see, they will rush to eat it.
These species have a slow metabolism, the same as turtles. Metabolism contributes to speed which is the reason why they are slow. Aside from that, they have hard shells that protect them from predators. They ain’t need to run away from them or chase their prey either. Tortoises are also herbivores so they don’t need to catch vegetables to eat
Even if tortoises can move faster, they prefer to slow down. It will avoid them from incurring injuries and they don’t like taking risks. Tortoises are very careful not to end up getting flipped in their backs. If they do, they will be exposed to different predators who will take advantage of their vulnerable state.
Tortoises don’t walk fast because they have to carry a hard shell. It makes up their entire body which is understandable why they walk slowly. Not having predators also made them slow since not many animals will try to eat them. When they retract in their shells the predator will lose interest. It leaves them alone and just finds another prey for food.
Which Tortoise is the Fastest?
The world’s fastest tortoise that was recorded by the Guinness World Records is a leopard tortoise called Bertie. His record is 0.6 miles per hour, which is very fast when it comes to tortoises. He broke the previous record in 1977 and is now the record holder of being the fastest tortoise on Earth.
It’s impressive for tortoises to move that fast knowing how slow they can go. Without the need to worry about running away from predators, they evolved to be relaxed. They don’t need to chase for their food which contributes to that trait. Their slow metabolism made them move slow just like with turtles.
Why Do Tortoises Run Fast?
Tortoises are not the kind of species that can run or travel long distances fast. They are very slow compared with other animals. They walk slowly because they don’t have to worry about anything. Tortoises can walk 0.13 to 0.30 miles per hour on average. They can walk faster depending on the species.
However, tortoises can move faster even if everyone knows that they are one of the slowest animals around. It’s not impossible for a tortoise to move fast especially when they sense danger. When they feel that there’s a threat around them, they can run fast. If they see something they want like food, they will run as if they don’t have heavy shells to carry.
Why Are Tortoises Too Slow?
Tortoises don’t need to chase other animals as prey so they can eat. They are herbivores which means their food is not going to run. Plants are stationary and tortoises can take their time walking towards them when they get hungry. These reptiles are slow since they don’t need to be run fast just to eat.
Tortoise is not prey like other small animals. They don’t have predators that will chase and eat them. When they see predators, tortoises have to run away from them. Their thick shells can protect them and they are too bothersome for hungry predators who want to eat right away.
Their slow movements are because of their slow metabolism. This will influence the speed that makes them slow too. Tortoises also don’t move fast to avoid the risks. It will be dangerous for them to move fast. That can result in falling or even damaging their shells. Those are serious injuries that tortoises are trying to avoid to stay alive for a long time.
How Fast are Turtles in Water?
Turtles’ speed when they are in the water is about 0.9 to 12 miles per hour. If they are under attack, they can increase their speed to 22 miles per hour. They swim fast especially when they have to escape. Even as hatchlings, they can swim 40 km in just 30 hours. Sea turtles such as the green sea turtle can swim a distance of 480 km for only 10 days.
- Hatchling or New Born Turtles – 1.33 kph or 0.37 meter per second
- Young Turtles – 3.5 to 18 kph or 1 to 5 meters per second
- Sea Turtles – 20 mph or 32.4 kph or 9 meters per second
- Marine Green Turtles – 2 kph or 0.55 meters per second
- Softshell Turtle – 15mph or 24 kph
- Leatherback Turtle – 21 mph or 35 kph
FAQs
1. What is the slowest slug in the world?
The banana slug is the slowest in the world. Its speed is only 0.000023 m/s which seems like it’s not moving. Its scientific name is Ariolimax columbianus with the common name of a banana slug.
2. Is there another animal slower than a sloth?
Sloth is the slowest animal in the world. Therefore, nothing can be slower than sloth. Other slow animals include snails, slugs, and tortoises. While the fastest in the animal kingdom are the cheetah and greyhound. They have such graceful speed and can catch their prey without it knowing what got them.
3. What predators do turtles have?
The turtle’s predator varies from the species and their geographic location. As an example, painted turtles including land turtles have several predators. These are raccoons, skunks, gulls, ravens, foxes, crows, weasels, herons and even snapping turtles. Sea turtle predators are killer whales and sharks.
4. Do snails feel pain when they get crushed?
Unfortunately, yes, snails can feel pain when they get crushed. They have a nervous system which means they can feel what’s happening around them. Although you can’t hear them crying, avoid stepping on these creatures. They can feel pain just like other animals on the planet.
Conclusion
Turtles are faster than tortoises but they both don’t need to move fast. These reptiles have an armor-like shell where they can hide. Their metabolism is also slow which contributes to their slow movements. They didn’t have a reason to move fast like other animals. Their relaxed lifestyle doesn’t matter since they can live for a few centuries. Moving slow made them tough and live longer lives compared to other animals that run fast.