Can Tortoises Run? Everything You Need To Know!

I’ve owned a tortoise for years and I still see some things that surprise me I didn’t know tortoises could do. Tortoises are one of the slowest reptiles on the planet however the speed they move at can vary quite a bit depending on the scenario. This might lead you to ask yourself “can tortoises run?” Let’s look into it.

Can tortoises run? No tortoises can’t run even when it comes to walking they are very slow animals. Tortoises have evolved in a way that doesn’t require them to run simply because they have no need to. This is because tortoises are herbivores, meaning they eat plants and flowers which can’t escape them so tortoises have no genetic need to run and move fast like other animals that need to catch moving prey.

In this article we are going to cover reasons why a tortoise might be moving quicker than usual, how fast can tortoises move and some other important topics!

Why Are Tortoises So Slow?

There are a couple of reasons why tortoises can’t run and once you’re aware of them it makes sense as to why tortoises can’t run.

Let’s look into them.

  • They don’t need to run
  • Tortoises have a slow metabolism
  • Potential injuries
  • How they are built

We will explore the reasons further.

They Don’t Need To Run

Let’s go to the opposite end of the spectrum and take the cheetah, for example. Cheetahs can run at top speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. This is because cheetahs are carnivores that eat animals like gazelles, antelopes and hares.

Now the reason cheetahs run so fast is because the physically need to in order to catch their prey and survive so it makes sense biologically for them to be so fast.

As for tortoises, they are herbivores who eat vegetables, flowers, and plants. These things aren’t animals that can escape tortoises therefore they have no biological requirement to run in order to catch prey.

Another reason they don’t need to run is because tortoises aren’t animals of prey, meaning other things don’t hunt them to eat. If an animal actively ate tortoises then it would make sense for them to run but because they don’t there’s simply no need.

Sure some animals like dogs or foxes might attack them from time to time, but it’s not something they would actually eat due to a tortoises shell protecting them.

Slow Metabolism

The reason tortoises are able to live so long is because of the slow speed of their metabolism. A slow metabolism means they burn energy at a much slower rate compared to other animals which correlates to longevity and speed.

Due to them moving so slowly and not expending energy they can go quite some time without eating food.

Potential Injuries

A big part of why tortoises live so long is because they are careful animals. If they rushed around everywhere they would leave themselves open to potentially bone breaks, shell injuries and other accident related problems.

How They Are Built

The way tortoises are built with a heavy shell and short limbs make for another reason as to why they can’t run.

A tortoises short stocky limbs make it a lot harder for them to move quickly and run. If they were longer it would be a lot easier for them to cover ground and move at a much faster rate.

How Fast Can Tortoises Move?

The speed at which your tortoise is able to walk depends largely on the species and size of the reptile.

Tortoises average a speed of around 0.13 to 0.30 miles per hour however there are some outliers, there has to be a tortoise faster than the rest…surely?

Indeed there is confirmed by the Guinness book of world records in which Bernie holds the title for being the worlds fastest tortoise.

Bernie, a leopard tortoise ran at an average speed of 0.63 miles per hour which is is more than double the average of other torts.

Tortoises may walk at different speeds depending on the scenario, we will cover in the next section some reasons why a tortoise might move quicker than usual.

Reasons Why A Tortoise Might Move Quicker Than Normal

Humans have an average walking speed too, but there are times when you might walk faster than you usually would for certain reasons. Tortoises are the same.

Similar to me a tortoise will move faster if they get a sight or scent of some food. All of a sudden they unleash their inner cheetah!

If you’re in the outdoors with your tort and they spot a favorite flower of theirs such as a hibiscus or preparing their plate to feed them inside they will certainly move with a lot more urgency.

No matter how hungry or eager they are to eat tortoises will still not be able to run.

Another common reason for tortoises moving quicker might be to attract a tortoise of the opposite sex. Which is also similar to me.

When your tortoise is trying to mate it’s common to notice abnormal behaviors you wouldn’t usually see, such as walking a lot faster than normal.

Can Tortoises Run – Summary

Tortoises can move at different walking speeds, however you will never see a tortoise because they have no genetic need to run. This because the foods tortoise eat aren’t moving prey that would require them to chase it. On average tortoises will walk at a speed of 0.13 to 0.30 miles an hour with them walking faster due to excitement if they see something that excites them.

I hope this post has been informational and you can take something from it to share with other tortoise owners for some added tortoise knowledge.