Brown-Throated Sloth — printable fact sheet

Did you know?

• Algae often grow in the Brown-Throated Sloth’s fur, giving it a greenish tint that helps with camouflage in the treetops.
• Brown-Throated Sloths have a symbiotic relationship with the algae that grow on their fur, which not only provides camouflage but also supplements their diet with nutrients when they groom. Despite their slow terrestrial movement, they are surprisingly adept swimmers, using their long limbs to paddle through water efficiently. Unlike many mammals, sloths defecate only once a week, descending from the trees to do so—a risky behavior that remains a mystery to scientists. Their slow pace is a successful evolutionary strategy, as it minimizes detection by predators like harpy eagles and jaguars.