Bradypus tridactylus (three-toed sloth)

Classification

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Mammalia

Order:Xenarthra

Fammily:Bradypodidea

Genus:Bradypus

Species:Bradypus tridactylus

INTRODUCTION

Bradypus tridactylus, better known as the three-toed sloth, is a strange and solitary animal. They go through their entire life cycle many meters above the rain forest floor. The sloth is a mammal that lives, feeds and reproduces in the upper levels of the forest canopy. Bradypus is considered one of the slowest moving mammals in the world. In fact it is so slow, algae will grow on its back. It may take all day for the animal to travel from one tree to another. Even so, climbing is its specialty. If for some unfortunate reason the three toed sloth ends up on the jungle floor it will pull its self along with its front arms dragging its back legs.

CONSERVATION

Bradypus tridactylus, better known as the three-toed sloth, is a strange and solitary animal. They go through their entire life cycle many meters above the rain forest floor. The sloth is a mammal that lives, feeds and reproduces in the upper levels of the forest canopy. Bradypus is considered one of the slowest moving mammals in the world. In fact it is so slow, algae will grow on its back. It may take all day for the animal to travel from one tree to another. Even so, climbing is its specialty. If for some unfortunate reason the three toed sloth ends up on the jungle floor it will pull its self along with its front arms dragging its back legs.

References

http://http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/bradypus/b._tridactylus.html

http://www.infocostarica.com/fauna/3sloth.html/

http:// www.andrews.esc18.net/ARCHIVES/CONTEST/endangered%20species/html/sloth.html

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Last modified: November 25, 2000