How Fast Are Turtles? A Detailed Look At Turtle Speeds

Turtles may seem like slow, laid-back creatures, but with around 300 species spanning the globe their speeds and mobility vary greatly. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: the fastest turtles can run at speeds over 15 miles per hour on land, while the fastest swimming turtles have been clocked at over 20 miles per hour under water.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take an in-depth look at turtle speeds on land and in water. We’ll overview turtle species and sizes, look at turtle anatomy as it relates to speed, break down speed ranges by turtle types and sizes, and highlight the fastest turtle runners and swimmers out there.

Turtle Species and Sizes

Sea Turtles vs Land Turtles

There are around 300 species of turtles, which are broadly divided into sea turtles and land/freshwater turtles. Sea turtles have flippers for swimming, while land/freshwater turtles have feet for walking. Some key differences between sea and land turtles:

• Sea turtles migrate long distances between feeding and nesting grounds, while most land turtles stay within a smaller home range.
• Sea turtles have a more hydrodynamic shell shape for swimming, while land turtles have a more rounded, protective shell.
• Sea turtles only come on land to lay eggs, while land turtles live most of their life on land.
• Sea turtles have a mostly carnivorous diet of jellyfish, fish, crustaceans etc., while land turtles are generally omnivorous, eating plants, insects, worms, fish.

The 7 species of sea turtles are leatherback, green, hawksbill, loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, olive ridley, and flatback. Popular land/freshwater turtles include box turtles, tortoises, slider turtles, mud turtles, musk turtles.

Small, Medium and Large Turtles

Turtles come in a huge range of sizes, from the tiny bog turtle that fits in the palm of your hand, to the enormous leatherback sea turtle growing up to 7 feet long! Here’s a comparison of turtle sizes:

As a general rule, sea turtles tend to be much larger than land and freshwater turtles. The largest sea turtle species is the leatherback, which can weigh over 1,500 pounds! Wow, that’s heavier than a small car!

😯 On land, tortoises like the Galapagos tortoise and Aldabra giant tortoise are the heavyweights, weighing up to 550 pounds.

Turtle Anatomy and Speed

Limbs and Flippers

Turtles have specially adapted limbs and flippers that allow them to swim through the water with ease (1). Their large front flippers help propel them forward, while their smaller back limbs act as rudders, steering them as they go. The flippers contain long claws and scales that aid their movement.

While great for swimming, the flippers make it awkward for turtles to walk on land – explaining their famously slow pace across ground. But don’t be fooled, turtles can really motor through the water thanks to their clever anatomy!

Streamlined Shells

A turtle’s shell is perfectly optimized for slipping smoothly through the water (2). The curved, streamlined shape offers little resistance as they paddle along. Some species even have ridges on their shells that channel water to help reduce drag. It’s natures own version of racing stripes!

Lightweight shells composed of smooth scutes, spines and bone allow these reptiles to navigate easily between obstacles like rocks and aquatic plants without slowing. A turtle’s unique physiology gifts it speed and agility that belies expectations.

Powerful Muscles

Lurking under those shells are some superbly muscular bodies! A turtle’s chest, shoulders and front flippers contain incredibly strong muscle groups that deliver the power they need for swimming (3). Species like the leatherback sea turtle have especially defined front muscles surrounding their flippers.

As these giant muscles contract, the flippers stroke through the water, thrusting the turtle forward. Meanwhile, hind leg retractor muscles withdraw the back limbs into the protective shell. The combination of robust front muscles and streamlined rears gives turtles an athletic edge in the water.

Smaller mussels, like box turtles, may not be record breakers but still utilize their strength to traverse all types of terrain and obstacles.

Turtle Speed Ranges by Type and Size

Sea Turtle Speeds

Sea turtles are generally the fastest types of turtles. Their flippers are specially adapted for efficient swimming. Green sea turtles can reach swimming speeds of up to 22 mph (35 kph), making them the fastest sea turtle.

Leatherback sea turtles are also quite fast, reaching speeds of 10-15 mph (16-24 kph) during migrations across the ocean. Other sea turtles like loggerheads and hawksbills typically swim at 1-3 mph (1.6-4.8 kph).

The speed varies based on whether they are casually swimming or actively migrating long distances.

Land Turtle Speeds

Land turtles are much slower than their swimming relatives. Box turtles and tortoises average only 0.2-0.3 mph (0.3-0.5 kph) on land. Their sturdy legs and heavy shells make rapid movement difficult. However, certain species can speed up for short bursts.

Box turtles have been recorded moving at 0.6 mph (1 kph) to escape predators. Desert tortoises in extreme heat have sped up to 0.45 mph (0.7 kph) to find shade.

Small Turtle Speeds

Smaller turtles tend to be faster than larger ones, relatively speaking. For example, baby sea turtles just a few inches long can swim at 1 mph (1.6 kph) or more. Tiny box turtle hatchlings can move several times their body length per second despite their slow overall speed.

Their small size reduces drag and makes it easier to generate thrust. Larger adult turtles often cruise more slowly, but make up for it with much greater raw strength.

Medium Turtle Speeds

Medium-sized turtles a few years old may be the optimal size for speed. They are large enough for power, but still small and light enough for agility. For instance, green sea turtles 5-10 years old with a shell length around 2 feet (60 cm) can reach sustained swimming speeds over 10 mph (16 kph).

Box turtles 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) long can dash at speeds over 1 mph (1.6 kph) when threatened.

Large Turtle Speeds

The largest turtle species are slower due to their massive size. For example, huge leatherback sea turtles 6 feet (2 m) long swim at around 2 mph (3.2 kph) on average. Giant Galapagos tortoises that can weigh over 500 lbs (230 kg) move at a pace of less than 0.2 mph (0.3 kph).

Their enormous bulk makes rapid speed difficult. Smaller members of the same species are often much quicker by comparison. However, large turtles make up for slow speed with tremendous strength to migrate long distances or dominance within their ecological niches.

The Fastest Turtles on Land and in Water

Fastest Land Turtles

When it comes to speed on land, the African spurred tortoise is one of the fastest among turtles and tortoises. These turtles can reach top speeds of 0.28 mph (0.45 kph), allowing them to escape predators and hunt for food with haste across the African savanna and desert landscapes.

Another contender for the fastest land turtle title is the snake-necked turtle. Found primarily in Australia, these turtles have long necks which they can stretch out rapidly to ambush passing prey. Their top speed is around 0.25 mph (0.4 kph).

The Chinese three-striped box turtle is also known for its speed and agility on land. Native to Eastern Asia, these turtles can burst into high gear to chase after food or mates, hitting speeds comparable to the fastest record holders at nearly 0.3 mph (0.5 kph).

Fastest Sea Turtles

In the ocean, the leatherback sea turtle stands out as the speediest on record. Weighing over 2000 pounds, these powerful swimmers can reach astounding speeds of over 20 mph (32 kph) thanks to their hydrodynamic body shape and immense flippers which function like wings underwater.

Following close behind is the loggerhead sea turtle, reaching speeds up to 15 mph (24 kph). Their powerful front flippers make them adept swimmers able to migrate thousands of miles between nesting and feeding grounds.

Green sea turtles are also known for their speed and endurance while swimming. Using their specially adapted forelimbs as propellers, they can sustain speeds around 5 mph (8 kph) for hours at a time during ocean crossings.

While not built for speed, sea turtles are still amongst the fastest reptiles. Their grace and velocity in the water allows them to make epic journeys across entire oceans to fulfill their life cycles.

Conclusion

While some turtles like box turtles mosey along at under 1 mile per hour, others like the leatherback sea turtle can cruise at over 20 miles per hour. A turtle’s anatomy and environment play key roles in determining its speed abilities.

We covered the basics of turtle speeds across land and sea turtle species, looking at how their size, limbs, shells and muscles allow different speeds. While they seem laid-back, some turtles can really pick up the pace!