One of the most unusual creatures are the sloths. Sloths are slow moving leaf specialists (but they are considered omnivores), which are found only in Central and South America. They come in two varieties—two- and three-toed sloths—and six extant species exist. Much larger ground sloths did exist, but humans no doubt played a part in their extinction. Currently, deforestation threatens this unique group of animals, and many are rescued and released back into the wild.  Interesting sloth facts:

[Sloths] are exceptionally good swimmers. They spend most of their lives hanging upside down in trees, even giving birth upside down. Even more interesting the sloth leaves the treetops every eight days to come down to the ground to deficate (Myers,1999). Sloths are slow moving but can be very territorial and will slash rivals with their sharp claws if threatened.

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[S]loths have a very low metabolic rate. They have considerably reduced muscle mass, presumably to make room for the expansive gut, and are therefore unable to regulate body temperature by shivering. They have a low (30-34 degrees C) body temperature that they regulate by basking in the sun. (Jansa,1996)

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All sloths have multi-chambered stomachs with cellulose digesting bacteria which allows digestion of leaves (Jansa, 1996).

Females give birth once per year. They nurse the young for only six weeks, but will continue to carry their young on their backs for up to six months. Sloths reach sexual maturity at age three.

Also, more fascinating sloth trivia:

The Tree Sloth . . . has algae growing in its fur. These algae help to camouflage the sloth against the lichen-covered tree . . . . There is even a moth that lives only in the sloth’s fur and consumes the algae; this is a commensal relationship between the moth and the sloth.

Two-toed sloths actually have three toes on their hind limbs, but their front limbs have two toes.

Photo source for attribution here

Three-toed sloths

This little sloth almost looks like a baby Chewbacca—the wookie from “Star Wars.” Photo source for attribution here
Photo source for attribution here
Photo source for attribution here
Photo source for attribution here

Interesting sloth pictures

Photo source for attribution here
Photo source for attribution here
The skeleton of an extinct giant ground sloth. Photo source for attribution here
A sleeping sloth. Photo source for attribution here
Photo source for attribution here
Photo source for attribution here
Photo source for attribution here
Photo source for attribution here

Sloth video

A sloth crossing the road very slowly—of course, many do not make it across.

Hilarious baby sloth video:

David Attenborough discusses some mysteries about the amazing sloth

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