Their Ancestors Were Huge|Their Ancestors Were Huge
Millions of years ago, some ancestors of today's sloths were the size of elephants. Ground sloths, as they are called, used to roam the earth and graze from the treetops. They are believed to have once roamed across South and North America.
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Millions of years ago, some ancestors of today's sloths were the size of elephants. Ground sloths, as they are called, used to roam the earth and graze from the treetops. They are believed to have once roamed across South and North America.
Image via Getty Creative
They Move Slowly on Land But Are Good Swimmers|They Move Slowly on Land But Are Good Swimmers
Sloths are considered the slowest mammals on the planet. But they are excellent swimmers and can move three times as fast in water than on land. Sloths are efficient swimmers thanks to their long arms.
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Sloths are considered the slowest mammals on the planet. But they are excellent swimmers and can move three times as fast in water than on land. Sloths are efficient swimmers thanks to their long arms.
Image via Getty Creative
They Have Funny Bathroom Habits|They Have Funny Bathroom Habits
Sloths must climb out of their protective tree habitats and come close to the ground to use the bathroom. Once a week, they climb down the trunks of their tree homes to the same spot, grip the tree and defecate. Because they're creatures of habit, this is their most vulnerable time as they are very susceptible to predators.
Image via Associated Press
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Sloths must climb out of their protective tree habitats and come close to the ground to use the bathroom. Once a week, they climb down the trunks of their tree homes to the same spot, grip the tree and defecate. Because they're creatures of habit, this is their most vulnerable time as they are very susceptible to predators.
Image via Associated Press
They Have a Super Strong Grip|They Have a Super Strong Grip
Sloths have adapted very long and strong claws with a grip that can stay hanging onto tree branches even while the animal is sleeping. In fact, some sloths have been found to have died while still hanging by their claws.
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Their Fur Contains an Ecosystem
Sloths move so slowly that algae grows on their fur, turning some sloths a fuzzy green color. But did you know their fur is also home to a whole host of other creatures? Sloths are covered in ticks, beetles, moths, mites and hundreds of other bugs.
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They Have Three Main Predators
Besides the danger that humans can exert on the habitats of sloths, they also have to watch out for jaguars, snakes and eagles. Luckily, their slow-moving nature and the green algae they grow on their fur acts to camouflage them from predators. If they are confronted, they defend themselves by lashing out with their claws.
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