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Line 1: − {{Taxonomy − |name=Sloth − |image=ThreeToedSloth.jpg − |caption= − |superkingdom= − |kingdom= Animalia − |subkingdom= − |superphylum= − |phylum=Chordata − |subphylum= − |infraphylum= − |microphylum= − |superdivision= − |division= − |subdivision= − |superclass= − |class=Mammalia − |subclass= − |infraclass= − |superorder= − |order=Pilosa − |suborder=Folivora − |infraorder= − |superfamily= − |family=Bradypodidae, Megalonychidae − |subfamily= − |supertribe= − |tribe= − |subtribe= − |genera=Bradypus<br/>Choloepus − |genus= − |subgenus − |species=B. pygmaeus<br>B. torquatus<br>B. tridactylus<br/>B. variegatus<br/>C. didactylus<br/>C. hoffmanni − |binomialname= − |sub= − |alt= − |regionimg= − |pop= − |conservation= − }} − '''Sloths''' are several species of [[South America]]n [[mammal]]s of the familys Bradypodidae and Megalonychidae, of which the genera is represented by the living two and three-toed sloths. − == Habits == − Living sloths use their clawed feet to hang upside down from tree branches, where they feed on leaves. The remarkably non-nutritious nature of such a diet may necessitate their habitual [[lethargy]].The two-toed sloth is in fact so inert that [[symbiosis|symbiotic]] [[algae]] commonly grows in its fur, making it the only mammal that appears to be green. This, along with its typical motionlessness, affords it excellent [[camouflage]] in the trees. − − Sloths defecate extremely infrequently (typically once a week). Yet remarkably, instead of just letting go from the treetops, they descend to the ground to use a single favoured sloth lavatory, which over the years may grow to mountainous proportions, exposing themselves to considerable danger in the process. − − == Creationist perspective == − − [[Creation science|Creation scientists]] believe that the sloth, like all ground-dwelling animals, originated in the [[Middle East]]. After the [[Great Flood]], the species was probably dispersed by [[Rafting (ecology)|rafting]] which enabled it to colonize South America as part of the [[Post-Diluvian Diasporas]]. − − ==Links== − *[http://www.xenarthra.org/ Xenarthra.org] about sloths and similar mammals − [[Category:Mammals]]
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