Interesting Facts about Sloths
Sloths are some of the most interesting creatures on our planet! Here are some fun facts about these slow-moving animals:
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Sloths spend most of their time in trees – they sleep, eat, and even mate there.
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Sloth fur is composed of two types of hairs: short, fine hairs that provide camouflage and protection from the elements; and longer, thicker hairs where algae can grow.
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Sloths move so slowly that algae grows in their fur, giving them a greenish tinge. This helps them to blend into their environment and keep safe from predators.
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Most sloths have three toes on each front foot and two toes on each hind foot. They use these digits to cling onto tree branches while climbing or descending.
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The average range for the two-toed sloth is just over 400 feet (120m)! This makes them one of the slowest mammals in land movement.
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Two species of sloth exist: three toed sloths (Bradypodidae) and two toed sloths (Choloepodidae). All species possess long prehensile tails which aid in balance when branches sway or bend from wind or other external forces.
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Sloths are solitary creatures who only interact with others for mating purposes and bear no territoriality marks or signs towards others within their species. Leading a mostly nocturnal lifestyle, this allows them to stay hidden during daylight hours when potential predators may be out looking for food sources like fruit or rodents to hunt down.
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Baby sloths cling tightly to their mother’s fur until they are ready to explore themselves at around four months old! During this period they will also develop an affinity with leaves which will remain with them throughout adulthood – sleeping cuddling up against large foliage whenever possible!
