Getting to Know Sloths
What Is a Sloth?
A sloth is a slow-moving, tree-dwelling mammal found in the rainforests of Central and South America.
Despite their appearance, they are not monkeys but are actually related to armadillos and anteaters.
Sloths are part of the order Pilosa and are classified as arboreal mammals, meaning they spend the majority of their lives in trees.
Sloths can range in size from 2 to 2.5 feet (0.6 to 0.8 meters) long and weigh between 8 to 17 pounds (3.6 to 7.7 kilograms) depending on the species (National Geographic Kids).
Sloth Habitats
Sloths primarily live in the tropical rainforests, where they can find plenty of their favorite food, such as leaves, fruits, and sap of various trees (WWF).
They adapt exceptionally well to living in trees, with their long arms and sharp claws allowing them to hang from branches with ease.
Types of Sloths
There are two main types of sloths: the three-toed sloth and the two-toed sloth.
These types are further divided into different species, making up six species in total.
The three-toed sloth family, Bradypodidae, has four species, while the two-toed sloth family, Megalonychidae, has two species (Teach Starter).
Three-toed sloths are known for their long arms, which are twice as long as their legs.
This unique feature allows them to move efficiently through their tree habitats and even rotate their heads 270 degrees due to extra vertebrae in their necks (Teach Starter).
Like all mammals, sloths give birth to live young, and baby sloths rely on their mother’s milk as well as starting to consume leaves as early as one week old (Teach Starter).
Sloth Behaviors and Lifestyle
Daily Life of a Sloth
Sloths are unique and fascinating creatures, known for their slow movements and tree-dwelling lifestyle.
They spend most of their time hanging upside down from branches, using their strong claws to hold on.
Sloths are also expert swimmers, capable of holding their breath underwater for up to 40 minutes!
These mammals sleep a lot, with wild brown-throated three-toed sloths sleeping an average of 9.6 hours a day.
With a slow metabolism, sloths only urinate and defecate about once a week.
This process is quite an ordeal for them – they climb down from their tree, dig a hole, and cover it up afterward.
The Sloth Diet
Sloths are primarily folivores, which means their diet mainly consists of leaves, fruits, and the sap of various trees.
However, they are known to occasionally consume insects, adding some protein to their diet.
Leaves provide sloths with most of the nutrients they need, but they digest them very slowly.
In fact, it can take up to a month for a sloth to fully digest a meal!
Survival and Predators
Despite their slow movements, sloths have a few adaptations to help them survive in the wild.
For example, their fur is home to algae, which provides them with a greenish tint that helps camouflage them in their rainforest habitat.
Moreover, sloths have developed a unique relationship with moths, which live in their fur and help fertilize the algae.
This mutualistic relationship helps sloths blend into their surroundings, making them less visible to predators such as jaguars, ocelots, and harpy eagles.
Being primarily arboreal, or tree-dwelling, sloths spend most of their time on tree branches, avoiding predators.
While they do not have exceptional eyesight, their strong sense of smell allows them to easily navigate through their habitat and locate their favorite tree leaves.
In summary, sloths are fascinating creatures with many unique adaptions that help them thrive in their natural environment.
By hanging upside down, swimming, and relying on their specialized diet, these animals have carved out a unique niche for themselves in the rainforests of Central and South America.