Some animals spend a lot of time doing nothing. Still, it is exciting to see why they are doing it.
Some animals take a lot of time to burn energy or they have a slow metabolism, which they need to regain while resting. For most; not all of these animals, there is a reason for them being “lazy.”
Look at the list we have created or hop to every animal.
#1 Sloth
- Species: Sloth (order: Folivora)
- Average Lifespan: 20-30 years
- Size: 2–2.5 feet
- Weight: 8–17 pounds
- Diet: Herbivore (leaves)
- Habitat: Rainforests
- Speed: 0.24–0.3 mph
- Activity Level: Mostly nocturnal
Noted for their slow movement, they spend most of their lives hanging upside down in the trees of the tropical rainforests of South and Central America.
#2 Panda
- Species: Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
- Average Lifespan: 20-30 years
- Size: 4.6–6.2 feet
- Weight: 220–250 pounds
- Diet: Bamboo, occasionally small mammals
- Habitat: Mountainous bamboo forests
- Conservation Status: Endangered
The panda, with its striking black and white coat, is loved worldwide and regarded as a Chinese national treasure. Pandas are primarily found in temperate forests high in the mountains of southwest China, where they eat bamboo almost exclusively. Depending on their bamboo-portion, they must consume anywhere from 26 to 84 pounds each day.
#3 Hippopotamus
- Species: Hippopotamus amphibius
- Average Lifespan: Up to 40-50 years
- Size: 10 to 15 feet (length)
- Weight: 3,000 to 4,000 pounds
- Diet: Herbivore (mainly grass)
- Habitat: Rivers and lakes
- Speed (in water): 19 mph (maximum)
Hippos are giant semi-aquatic mammals with barrel-shaped bodies, short legs and tails, and massive heads! Their skin is greyish to muddy-brown on the outer side and pale pink on the underside. Hippos spend the majority of the day in rivers and lakes. Because their eyes, nose, and ears are on the tops of their heads, they can see and breathe while submerged in water.
#4 Koala
- Species: Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
- Average Lifespan: 10-15 years
- Size: 24 to 33 inches (length)
- Weight: 9 to 31 pounds
- Diet: Herbivore (eucalyptus leaves)
- Habitat: Eucalyptus forests
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Koalas can be found in a variety of open forest and woodland areas. The presence of a small number of food trees ultimately characterizes their habitat. Where food trees grow on more rich soils and along watercourses, koalas can be found in higher quantities. However, they persist in urban areas and locations where their habitat has been largely removed.
#5 Opussom
- Species: Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
- Average Lifespan: 2-4 years
- Size: 10 to 14 inches (length)
- Weight: 4 to 14 pounds
- Diet: Omnivores (insects, fruits, and small animals)
- Habitat: Forests and urban areas
In North America, there are several dozen different opossum species, commonly referred to as possums. The Virginia opossum is often known as the common opossum. It is the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in the United States and Canada.
Opossums are great tree climbers and spend a lot of time in the trees. Sharp claws that burrow into the bark and a lengthy prehensile tail. This can be employed as an extra leg to assist them in achieving this. Opossums build their nests in tree holes or dens dug out by other animals.
#6 Python
- Species: Ball Python (Python regius)
- Average Lifespan: 20-30 years
- Size: 3 to 5 feet
- Weight: 3 to 5 pounds
- Diet: Carnivores (small mammals and birds)
- Habitat: Grasslands and forests
The snake catches prey with its sharp backward-pointing teeth. Then wraps its body around it, squeezing tighter with each exhale until the animal suffocates. When a python feeds, its metabolism slows down as all the energy goes towards digesting its meal. Which depends on how large the animal was.
#7 Nurse Shark
Species: Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)
Average Lifespan: 25-35 years
Size: 7 to 9 feet
Weight: 200 to 300 pounds
Diet: Carnivores (fish and invertebrates)
Habitat: Coral reefs and shallow waters
Nurse sharks are bottom-dwelling, slow-moving creatures that don’t attack humans. They can grow to be huge—up to 14 feet long—and have powerful jaws loaded with thousands of small, serrated teeth. If stomped on or bothered by divers who assume they’re placid, they’ll bite defensively.
Nurse sharks are generally nocturnal and spend their days resting on the ocean floor in coral reefs or sandy areas. At night, they become more active; hunting for prey like small fish.
#8 Echidna
Species: Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
Average Lifespan: 15-20 years
Size: 12 to 18 inches (length)
Weight: 4 to 9 pounds
Diet: Insectivores (ants and termites)
Habitat: Forests and grasslands
The Echidna comprise four of the five living species in a group of egg-laying mammals known as monotremes.
Echidnas are nocturnal animals and spend their days resting in burrows or under leaf litters. At night, they emerge to forage for ants, termites, and other small invertebrates.
They do look adorable tho!
#9 Blue-Tongued Lizard
- Species: Blue-Tongued Lizard (Tiliqua scincoides)
- Average Lifespan: 15-20 years
- Size: 12 to 24 inches (length)
- Weight: 0.9 to 1.5 pounds
- Diet: Omnivores (insects and plants)
- Habitat: Woodlands and gardens
The bluetongue lizard is a large skink that is native to large parts of Australia. It is also known as the western bluetongue snail. Blue-tongued lizards are mostly active during the day, often basking in the sun to regulate their body temperature. They use their blue-tongues to fend off any predators that may try to intimidate them.
#10 Cuckoo
- Species: Various cuckoo species
- Average Lifespan: Varies by species
- Size: Varies by species
- Diet: Mainly insectivorous, some are brood parasites
- Habitat: Varies by species, often woodlands and forests
Cuckoos are famous for laying their eggs in other bird’s nest. Leaving the offspring to be raised and fed by ‘foster parents.’
Cuckoos are particularly active in locating and monitoring host nests to ensure their eggs are successfully incubated and hatched. This ingenious strategy enables the rearing of more baby cuckoos than would otherwise be possible.
Summary of Top 10 Lazy Animals
Thank you for reading about the World’s Top 10 Lazy Animals. You expected to see some of them on the list, while others might have surprised you.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article on lazy animals.
As a little kid, I fell in love with nature, wildlife, and animals. Living in the USA, South Africa, Italy, China and Germany gave me the opportunity to discover the world's Wildlife. My favorite animals are Mountain Gorillas, Siberian Tigers, and Great White Sharks.
I'm a certified PADI Open Water Diver, went to Everest Base Camp and Trekked Gorillas in Uganda. I hold a Master of Science in Economics and Finance.
Please send any feedback to feedback@animalsaroundtheglobe.com
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