Why sloths are the best

Cold-blooded ectotherms such as frogs and snakes, are commonly subject to enforced slow movement when faced with cold temperatures, due to their inability to regulate their own temperature independently of the environment. Just like any chemical reaction, cold muscles are slow muscles so cold reptiles are slow reptiles. This is in stark contrast to most homeothermic mammals which maintain a stable, high core temperature via a process of adaptive thermogenesis , and are consequently able to move fast and effectively regardless of the ambient conditions.

But this athletic ability comes at a cost: high body temperatures mean high metabolic rates, and somehow the energy bill must be paid using food. So where do sloths fit into this dichotomy? They move slowly at all temperatures and, unsurprisingly, deviate from the typical homeothermic mammalian plan by operating at lower body temperatures than most mammals, while apparently having a reduced ability to thermoregulate.

The average temperature of the three-toed sloth is around Both two and three-fingered sloths have a predominantly folivorous leaf-based diet, consuming material with a notably low caloric content. There are plenty of other mammals which specialise on a leaf-based diet, but usually these animals compensate for their low-calorie diet by consuming relatively large quantities of food. Sloths typically rely on their camouflage to protect themselves from predators. However, when threatened, they can use their 3- to 4-inch-long claws and teeth to defend themselves.

And despite their slow movements, sloths are surprisingly strong. And there are other reasons not to snuggle up to a sloth. The green tint of the algae helps sloths blend in to their leafy surroundings, but it also invites ticks, mites, beetles, moths and other creepy crawlies to the party. This little ecosystem created by the algae is so unique that some species, like the sloth moth, live exclusively on sloth fur!

Though mostly herbivorous, they may occasionally snack on a larval insect or other passive, protein-packed snack like a bird egg. They lap dew drops off of leaves and fruits, and get additional water from their food. As sloths chomp on plants, their teeth get worn down, which prevents them from getting too long. It takes a long time for a sloth to digest its leafy diet. So long, in fact, that a sloth usually only climbs down from its tree about once a week to poop!

True to their name, sloths sleep for about 15 hours a day. Sloths live in rainforests, where habitat destruction is a serious threat. Supporting the responsible use of resources like choosing Smithsonian Bird Friendly Coffee can help protect them from habitat loss.

Their unique diet, lifestyle and health needs require specialized care. Sloths are like Spiderman, crossed with Wolverine, and that is pretty damn cool. Even though sloths are cute and awesome, there are still mean things that want to kill them, like Harpy Eagles, Jaguars and nasty people that have never seen a sloth video.

Grow algae of course! The sloth also likes to lick the algae off as a snack. Om nom nom! Those claws allow the sloth to hang onto the tree branch with no worries at all. Can you imagine that? Okay, not actual chocolate, but they love hibiscus flowers, which are totally the same thing to them. They go mad for it. The extinct giant ground sloths were some of the only mammals that had digestive systems large enough to process the huge avocado seeds whole.

They feasted on the fruit and then dispersed the seeds far and wide. All tree sloths that we see today evolved from giant ground sloths. There were thought to be over 80 different types with the largest Megatherium reaching over six meters in height.

There is even evidence to suggest that several different species of marine sloth existed, feeding from sea grass and seaweed in shallow water. Sloths are the undisputed pull-up world champions. From the moment they are born sloths are able to lift their entire body weight upwards with just one arm. They have a highly specialised muscle arrangement that can produce enough strength to withstand the force of a jaguar trying to rip them from the tree.

This unique locking mechanism is also how sloths are able to sleep while hanging from a tree branch. They have even been known to remain suspended upside down after death! Sloths are famous for their bizarre bathroom habits. They will only relieve themselves once a week and can lose up to a third of their body weight in one sitting!

Furthermore, they will only do it on the ground after wiggling around the base of a tree to dig a little hole. This weird weekly routine remains one of the biggest mysteries surrounding sloth behaviour. They have a very rare condition called rod monochromacy which means that they completely lack cone cells in their eyes.