2/16/2023 0 Comments Sloth poopThis particular group included a colossal sloth who lived on the ground, and is said to have been as big as a rhino weighing between 4 – 7 tonnes! This great sloth roamed the earth as early as 10,000 years ago and is named the Megatherium. The sloth descends from an ancient group of mammals called Xenarthra who evolved in isolation around 80 million years ago. All mammals have the same amount of vertebrae in the necks regardless of species, however over time, three -toed sloths and manatees have evolved to be the only exception to this rule, as they have more than everyone else! Two-toed sloths have 5-7 vertebrae, but the three-toed sloths have 8-9, giving them such acrobatic ability. Speaking of death and eeriness, who remembers that scene from the Exorcist when the little girl turns her head all the way around? Well, sloths can pretty much re-enact that scene, but in the most adorable way possible. Their muscles and limbs are so strong and adjusted to life in the trees, that it has been suggested that some sloths retain their grip on the trees after they have died!įive: Sloths Can Turn Their Heads Almost 360 Degrees! Sloths can live to be 40 years old in the wild, which is such a long time to be lounging in the treetops that the tree balances their entire being. By providing them with a warm and fuzzy home, sloths aid the sustainability of the environment in this way.įour: Some Sloths Remain Gripping Their Tree Even When They Are DeadĪs we have quite clearly already established, sloths are designed for life in the tree tops, sleeping for most of the day and often remaining motionless even when awake. The presence of moths is important for pollination and testing the health of the environment as they are very sensitive to change. In return, moths aid the cultivation of algae, which also clings to the fur of sloths for camouflage and also provides extra nutrition for them. A theory states that this could be one of the reasons why sloths do sluggishly sail down tree trunks to go to the loo, as it is mutually beneficial to the insects that live in the sloth, and the smiley faced fellows themselves! For example, female moths make home on three-toed sloths, and when it’s time for them to perform their weekly duty, the moths get off and lay their eggs on the fecal matter, where the larvae can survive until they are ready to go find an active sloth. Sloths home other animals such as moths and beetles in their fur. Three: Sloths are an entire ecosystem unto themselves Once they have relieved themselves, they can be up to 3 times lighter! They mate and give birth in the trees, but they appreciate a little more privacy when it's time to use the loo. This is because their slow pace makes them vulnerable to predators even half their size such as owls. In fact, this is one of the only times they ever venture down from their leafy and branchy abode. Now we know that sloths have possibly the slowest metabolisms EVER then it is pretty unsurprising that they only go and do their business once a week. Two: Sloths Urinate and Defecate just once a week A month! 1/12 th of a year! So next time something isn’t going down well with your stomach, stop your complaining! At least it won’t still be there in 30 days’ time… They’re not just plain lazy, they just haven’t got the fuel to be speedy! It can take up to 30 days for a sloth to digest just one single leaf… yep you read that right, 30 whole days. Sloths have such a slow metabolism, and feed on leaves that lack nutrition and energy. One: the most slothful part of the sloths is their insides! Sloths are a unique wonder of the earth, associated with slow pace and laziness, so liven up your sloth knowledge with some mind-blowing information! It's Monday once again, and to lift your spirits we wanted to bring you some truly weird and wonderful sloth facts that you may never have heard of before.
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