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| | + | {{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. |
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| | + | == 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. |
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| | + | 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. |
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| | + | == 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]]. |
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| | + | ==Links== |
| | + | *[http://www.xenarthra.org/ Xenarthra.org] about sloths and similar mammals |
| | + | [[Category:Mammals]] |