Why sloth move so slowly

The arboreal animals are known for taking their sweet time getting around, usually trekking no farther than feet 38 meters in a day [source: Cohn ]. On the rare occasions when they're on the ground, sloths crawl at a glacial pace of about 1 foot 30 centimeters per minute [source: Cohn ].

This sluggishness has earned sloths a negative reputation in the human world -- even one of the seven deadly sins shares their name. Yet, a sloth's lethargic nature allows it to make the most of its surrounding resources.

Native to the Americas, sloths spend most of their lives nestled between or hanging upside down from tree branches in tropical rain forests in Central and South America. Cecropia trees were nicknamed "sloth trees" because people thought sloths preferred their leaves; however, extensive observation has shown that sloths feed on many tree species [source: Lowman et al]. When hunger strikes, sloths simply reach out to the nearest available branch, pull it close and tear the leaves off with their lips.

You probably wouldn't move around too quickly either if you had a permanently stocked minifridge within arm's length. But imagine if you ate nothing but salad greens for a week without taking in any fats or protein. You probably wouldn't have a ton of excess energy to, say, sprint around the block.

Likewise, sloths' diets, which may also include fruits, flower buds and branches, don't provide much nutrition. To compensate, sloths have a host of adaptations in addition to their slow pace that allow them to survive on such a lean diet.

Members of the Xenarthra superorder, sloths are related to anteaters and armadillos. There are two types of sloths: two-toed and three-toed. Trying to spot a sloth in a zoo can be like hunting through a "Where's Waldo" illustration.

For starters, they prefer to remain tucked away among the tree foliage during the day. And, of course, sloths aren't especially active -- although new research indicates we may have exaggerated their laziness. Yet, results of a different study published in revealed an interesting contrast between captive and wild sloths.

According to data from the study conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany, wild sloths sleep far less than their captive cousins, napping only nine or 10 hours each day [source: Reebs]. This probably has to do with food availability and general boredom, since captive sloths' meals are provided for them. Along with a substantial amount of time spent sleeping, sloths conserve energy by breaking down their food much slower than most animals.

Sloths slowness, as it turns out, is the key to their survival. Far from being lazy, sloths are actually really efficient at conserving energy, and it all has to do with their diet. Spending most of their lives hanging upside in trees, sloths move no further than feet per day. When they make it to the ground, they crawl at a pace of about 1 foot per minute , according to the World Wildlife Federation. Their herbivorous diet is low in energy and lacks much of the nutrients needed — like fats and protein — for a balanced meal.

They also take days to digest a meal, meaning they only leave their perches to defecate around once a week , reports Scientific American. Because sloths rarely move, they grow algae on their fur, helping them camouflage with their arboreal home.

It's a neat trick for avoiding sharp-eyed eagles. Beyond algae, sloth fur is also a habitat for a whole range of organisms , from moths and cockroaches to fungi. While they mostly slumber on comfortable branches, here, this man's hand seems like a suitable substitute.

Sloths do most of their moving, and feeding, at night, snoozing away the hot temperatures of the day. Deforestation throughout Central and South America is putting pressure on sloths. The pygmy sloth, the smallest of the sloths that only lives on an island of the Caribbean coast of Panama, is critically endangered.

When sloths leave the safety of their mother, they adopt part of their parent's home range, staying in touch through frequent calls, according to the WWF. While sloths have strong bonds with their mothers, their low birth rate hurts their ability to recover from habitat destruction. Environment Climate Crisis Nature. Society Rights Politics. Gender Activism Coronavirus. Related articles.

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