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'''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.   

'''Sloths''' are several species of [[South America]]n [[mammal]]s of the families Bradypodidae and Megalonychidae, of which the genera is represented by the living two and three-toed sloths.   

== Habits ==

== 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. Along the ground sloths move especially slowly, at a rate of only approximately 6.5 feet per minute.

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. Along the ground sloths move especially slowly, at a rate of only approximately 6.5 feet per minute.

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.

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 favored sloth lavatory, which over the years may grow to mountainous proportions, exposing themselves to considerable danger in the process.

== Creationist perspective ==

== 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]].

[[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==

==External links==

*[http://www.xenarthra.org/ Xenarthra.org] about sloths and similar mammals

*[http://www.xenarthra.org/ Xenarthra.org] about sloths and similar mammals

[[Category:Mammals]]

[[Category:Mammals]]