Truth or Tail? Sloths are the slowest mammals on Earth.
Posted on Tuesday, March 30th, 2021
Truth!
Sloth are indeed very slow movers. This South American native spend about 15 hours a day sleeping, they rarely climb down from the trees, and even their stomachs and intestines are sluggish. It can take a month for their latest meal to digest! Much like koalas, the sloth’s plant-based diet is the basis for his slow moves. Eating only plant material - and no fat or protein - means the sloth doesn’t have much energy to move quickly. Their bodies have adapted to this lack of nutrients by slowing down. So enjoy a peek of the curled up mammal, but don’t expect much action.
Visit the two-toed sloth at the Zoo's Primate, Cat & Aquatics building on your next Zoo visit. Become a member today and enjoy unlimited daytime admission for an entire year!
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