Three Toed Sloths

There are different types of animals that live in trees and we usually think about birds and squirrels, we don’t often think about sloths. Bradypus variegatus is known as the three toes sloth. Bradypus variegatus can be found between the eastern Honduras to the northern region of Argentina. (Redford and Eisenberg 50). The three toed sloth are slow moving animals. They weigh between 2.35kg to 4kg for an adult, and an immature sloth weigh less than one pound. Bradypus variegatus body length can range from 433mm to 790mm and that is including the head and the tail. Bradypus variegatus color can be a light brown or a light black. They have long arms and they will hang upside down. Bradypus variegatus are able to turn their head up to 220 degrees …show more content…
Sloths are under Xenanrthrans, and Xenarthra includes the armadillos and American anteaters. Sloths and anteater are more closely related to each other rather then armadillos. Sloths was introduced into the world 37 million years ago. Sloths are known to be the most diverse group of this family. Species that are under Choleopus is known as the two toed sloth, and the relationship between the modern sloth genera. Bradypus Variegatus is resemble both families of the two toed sloths, which are Linneaus’s (Choloepus didactylus) and Hoffmanni’s (Choloepus hoffmanni). The two genera Bradypus and Choloepus have differences, Bradypus face is blunter then the Choloepus, Choloepus face is elongated and also have a prominent fleshy nose. Bradypus variegatus have a very hairy volar pad and also have 3 digits on the manus that will fuse, and Choloepus in both spcies are the opposite of Bradypus variegatus, they only have 2 unfused digits and have a hairless volar pads. (Mendels 1985). The vertebraes that are inside other two toed sloths and the three toed sloth differ, Bradypus variegatus have 8 to 9 cervical vertebrae and Choloepus hoffmanni only have 6 (Mendal …show more content…
(Montgomery 1983). It is sympatric with Bradypus torquatus in the eastern costal area of Brazil below 1500, but Bradypus variegatus is known to be the only three toe sloth that is above 1,500. (Oliver and Santos). Bradypus variegatus will munch on young leaves, buds, and other plant material. To have the right amount of nutrients they would have to obtain large amounts of the plants. Diets for Bradypus variegatus can vary because of the different types of materials that are in the plants. (Carvalho 1960). Sloths food usually take a while for it to digest, it can take between 157 hour to 50 days on average.(Montgomery & Sunquist, 1978). Sloths stomachs are filled cellulose- digesting bacteria, this will help them extract energy from the different types of leaves and