# Why has no animal species ever evolved wheels? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 5, 2008, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-no-animal-species-ever-evolved-wheels/462176 "2008-09-05T13:26:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-no-animal-species-ever-evolved-wheels/462176/21 "2008-09-09T09:51:05Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > I saw a show about the Kalahari ecosystem. There were spiders that roll down dunes like a wheel, then scurry off in the normal fashion. The one I saw was doing it on a flat stretch of sand, and I’m sure the narrator said it can travel at twice a human’s walking speed. Not that I’d be walking if I saw one of them rolling up behind me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-no-animal-species-ever-evolved-wheels/462176/22 "2008-09-09T17:02:26Z")
> [@puppygod](#): > > Interesting. Do you remember what was proposed as a solution? Maybe some kind of fluid exchange through sealed axis? The umbilical system mentioned in today’s version of the column (I don’t remember it being there before) was discussed in full, with diagrams, patent references, etc.. It apparently _is_ possible to provide an umbilical that doesn’t get tangled up. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-no-animal-species-ever-evolved-wheels/462176/23 "2008-09-09T20:00:13Z")
\*\*John W. Kennedy \*\* said: > [@](#): > > The umbilical system mentioned in today’s version of the column (I don’t remember it being there before) It was. Well, _I_ remember it. **puppygod** said: > [@](#): > > The wheel itself - need to be round enough, durable and with good traction. And you need at least three of them. Not necessarily. All it takes is 1 wheel. But you need to be able to balance. But if a two-legged animal can walk upright, balance is not an obstacle. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-no-animal-species-ever-evolved-wheels/462176/24 "2017-11-06T03:37:10Z")
Bumped. This Wiki article is now on the front page there: [Rotating locomotion in living systems - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotating_locomotion_in_living_systems) ---
**Author:** ![Powers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Powers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-no-animal-species-ever-evolved-wheels/462176/25 "2017-11-06T15:28:21Z")
Interesting that Wikipedia doesn’t mention the umbilical possibility for connecting a wheel. If someone had a source for it it could be added. Powers &8^] ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-no-animal-species-ever-evolved-wheels/462176/26 "2017-11-10T05:49:49Z")
> **[Plate trick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_trick)** > > In mathematics and physics, the plate trick, also known as Dirac's string trick, the belt trick, or the Balinese cup trick, is any of several demonstrations of the idea that rotating an object with strings attached to it by 360 degrees does not return the system to its original state, while a second rotation of 360 degrees, a total rotation of 720 degrees, does. Mathematically, it is a demonstration of the theorem that SU(2) (which double-covers SO(3)) is simply connected. To say that SU(2) Re... Shows a diagram of now something could have things connected such that rotating continually in one direction will unravel itself by design after two revolutions. It’s probably too difficult to evolve though. ---
**Author:** ![molten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@molten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/molten)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-no-animal-species-ever-evolved-wheels/462176/27 "2017-11-15T06:33:07Z")
The biggest disadvantage to having wheels is that they have no dual function. You can use feet to attack someone / kick their head in / slice them with your nails. How would a predator be able to grab onto / slice something open with the wheels after it runs its pray over? How would a herbivore it be able to kick / fight back with no feet? How would an animal be able to make tight turns on chases with wheels? (rubber wheels need to be replaced often due to loss of mass on turns and breaking) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-no-animal-species-ever-evolved-wheels/462176.md?page=1)