Why Do Some Animals Live Life in the Slow Lane?

In a past issue of Kids Answers, we talked about one of earth’s slowest creatures—the sloth! Though the sloth is super slow, its features and habits are evidence of a brilliant Creator. God also created many other poky-on-purpose creatures, like snails, turtles, and starfish.

Sluggish Snails

Slowly but surely, snails move along the ground, up walls, and even across ceilings. Snails have a band of muscle along the underside of their bodies called a ventral foot. The muscles in the foot move in a wavelike motion that pushes the snail forward. A snail’s foot is covered in a slimy mucus that helps it stick to and slide across surfaces.

Slow and Steady Turtles

The average turtle can only travel about 2–3 miles per hour while on land. But a turtle doesn’t need to be fast. Instead of running from a predator, a turtle can quickly duck inside its shell to escape.

Learn More About Turtles:

• Box Turtles
• Alligator Snapping Turtle
• Sea Turtle

Stalled Sea Stars

Also known as starfish, sea stars move about 6 inches per minute. The underside of a sea star is covered with special feet. At the end of each foot is a suction cup that attaches to surfaces. God designed sea stars to move from surface to surface using what’s called a water vascular system. Sea stars pull water into their body. The water then travels to their feet, allowing sea stars to crawl to the next surface.

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