Source: Brazilian Fauna
There are six species of sloths which are found in Central and South America. Their diet mainly consists of leaves and tree buds and their stomachs are as slow moving as they are. They have symbiotic bacteria that helps digest their food, but that process can take up to a month! Their fur grows opposite of most mammals because they spend most of their time upside down. They even mate upside down. Algae grows in their fur (along with several different types of insects) which gives it a lovely green tinge helping to camouflage them in the trees. So if you insist on cleanliness maybe the sloth is NOT for you.
There are two-toed and three-toed sloths. Wikipedia says that the two-toed sloths are generally faster than the three-toed variety. Hmmm, guess that means they go 2 miles an hour instead of one. Wiki also says that all sloths have three toes, but that the two-toed variety only has two 'fingers'. What? I'm not sure whether it is known why there are two-toed and three-toed species. Maybe only the sloths know why.
Brown-throated three-toed sloth
Photo by Christian Mehlfuhrer Source: Wikipedia
Like the anteater, sloths spend a lot of time sleeping and conserving energy. They are most vulnerable when they leave the trees which may be why they only do it once a week. Their claws are their only means of defense, but because of those lethal looking claws they can't walk very well, so ground locomotion consists of lying on their belly and pulling themselves along. When they are in the trees, they move slowly to escape notice from predators. Guess I'd move slowly too if I looked like that.
Source: Cabinet Magazine
The sloth is one of nature's truly unique creations. Is that a face only a mother could love or what?
Maybe the title should be "stinking sloths" since they certainly must stink! How ugly! I guess I'll be some of the critters on our trip to Panama.
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