Turtle

Mostly because of the tortoise-and-hare fable.

In the race fable traditionally credited to Aesop, the ancient Greek storyteller, the plodding tortoise beats the far faster hare; in the best-known retellings, the hare naps mid-race. The English line “slow and steady wins the race” comes from a later retelling. That is why 🐢 can praise patience as easily as it mocks slowness. In Chinese and Japanese tradition the turtle is also an old symbol of long life.

Are they calling me slow?

Possibly—if it follows a delay or a slow reply.

A turtle aimed at your pace can mean “took you long enough.” With words about patience, it is encouragement instead. Friends tease each other this way; under pressure, the same joke can sting.