What is the slowest animal in the world?

The title of "slowest animal in the world" is a bit tricky because "slow" can be measured in different ways (speed, metabolic rate, etc.). However, the garden snail (specifically, various species within the genus Helix) is often cited as one of the slowest land animals.

Here's what we know about their slowness:

• Speed: Garden snails move at a pace of approximately 0.03 miles per hour (0.05 kilometers per hour). This means it could take them several hours to traverse even a short distance. Their movement relies on rhythmic muscle contractions in their foot, secreting mucus to help them glide along.

• Other factors influencing speed: Their speed can vary greatly depending on factors like temperature and humidity. They are much slower in cold or dry conditions.

It's important to note that there are likely other animals, particularly in the deep sea where movement is less of a priority for survival, that might have even slower average speeds, but their speed is less readily observable and measurable. The garden snail's slowness, however, is easily demonstrable and makes it a good, widely understood example.