Monday, February 18, 2008
Introduction
Sloths are a fascinating and often misunderstood mammal that resides in tree tops of Central and South American rain forests. Sloths are the slowest mammal in the world. Sloths are so slow that algae often grows on their thick, fury coats. Sloths are an important animal to get to know because one type of sloth, the three-toed sloth, is an endangered species. In the following pictures and text, you will become familiar with some basic sloth facts, such as the two different types of sloths, where they live, what they eat, and where these interesting creatures enjoy spending their time.
Two Different Types of Sloths
There are two different types of sloths that both reside in different areas of rainforest. The first type of sloth is the two-toed sloth, named for the two long, prominent claws that it has. The same goes for the three-toed sloth who has three prominent, long claws that they have on their front feet. These claws, which separate the two different types of sloths, are the animals only form of defense.
Where Do Two-Toed Sloths Live?
Where Do Three-Toed Sloths Live?
Where Do Sloths Like to Spend Their Time?
All sloths spend a majority of their time hanging from branches from the tops of trees. Sloths mate, and give birth while hanging from trees. While sloths are babies, they can be seen clinging to their mothers until they are old enough to climb through the trees on their own. The tree tops are the best place for sloths to be, because although they can walk, or crawl on the ground, they have very weak hind legs, and cannot move fast, so they become an easy target for predators, such as big cats. Despite how slow and clumsy they are on land, sloths can swim quite well when necessary.
What Do Sloths Eat?
References
Introduction:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0403/feature1/zoom4.html
Posting 1:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/three-toed-sloth.html
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/two-toed-sloth.html
Posting 2:
http://www.pueblozoo.org/archives/feb02/images/sloth_map.jpg
Posting 3:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bss.sfsu.edu/geog/bholzman/courses/fall99projects/slothmap.jpg&imgrefurl=http://bss.sfsu.edu/geog/bholzman/courses/fall99projects/sloth.htm&h=465&w=552&sz=64&hl=en&start=19&sig2=Mk8Hj34yKGN1wEzlntiZjw&um=1&tbnid=r5-5v6ViSbb79M:&tbnh=112&tbnw=133&ei=IP3CR_PTLKfOpgS-soXNDQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmap%2Bof%2Btwo-toed%2Bsloths%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG
Posting 4:
http://www.cps.k12.in.us/~kcarroll/sloth%20with%20baby.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN1Ws0JSd2U
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloth
Posting 5:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insects
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecropia
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0403/feature1/zoom4.html
Posting 1:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/three-toed-sloth.html
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/two-toed-sloth.html
Posting 2:
http://www.pueblozoo.org/archives/feb02/images/sloth_map.jpg
Posting 3:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bss.sfsu.edu/geog/bholzman/courses/fall99projects/slothmap.jpg&imgrefurl=http://bss.sfsu.edu/geog/bholzman/courses/fall99projects/sloth.htm&h=465&w=552&sz=64&hl=en&start=19&sig2=Mk8Hj34yKGN1wEzlntiZjw&um=1&tbnid=r5-5v6ViSbb79M:&tbnh=112&tbnw=133&ei=IP3CR_PTLKfOpgS-soXNDQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmap%2Bof%2Btwo-toed%2Bsloths%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG
Posting 4:
http://www.cps.k12.in.us/~kcarroll/sloth%20with%20baby.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN1Ws0JSd2U
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloth
Posting 5:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insects
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecropia
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