The unbelievable truth about the slowest, most stupid animal on earth
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•16/12/2024
With their extremely strange biological characteristics, sloths are considered one of the most unique animals on the planet. Here are some interesting facts about them.
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With their extremely strange biological characteristics, sloths are considered one of the most unique animals on the planet. Here are some interesting facts about them.
Super slow moving speed. Sloths move at a speed of about 0.03 - 0.06 km/h on the ground, becoming the slowest moving mammal in the world . Photo: Pinterest.
Tree life.Sloths spend most of their time in trees, only coming down to the ground once or twice a week, usually to go to the toilet. Photo: Pinterest.
Slow digestive system. Sloths have an extremely slow digestive system, taking 2 to 4 weeks to digest all their food. Photo: Pinterest.
Their main diet is leaves. They mainly eat leaves, which have very little nutrition, forcing them to conserve energy. Photo: Pinterest.
Sloths have green fur. Their fur contains algae and bacteria, which provide a habitat for insects. This helps them camouflage and blend in with the jungle environment. Photo: Pinterest.
Algae in fur is food. Green algae in sloths' fur not only helps camouflage them but also provides extra nutrients when they lick their fur. Photo: Pinterest.
Few predators. Thanks to their good camouflage, sloths are rarely spotted by predators such as eagles or jaguars. Photo: Pinterest.
Excellent swimming ability. Although slow on land, sloths are excellent swimmers, able to cross rivers and strong currents thanks to their long limbs. Photo: Pinterest.
Sleep a lot but not too long. In nature, sloths only sleep about 8-10 hours a day, less than what people commonly think. Photo: Pinterest.
Special body structure. Sloths have a unique body and bone structure, which allows them to hang upside down in trees without much effort. Photo: Pinterest.
Slow heart rate. A sloth's heart rate can slow down to a third of its normal rate to conserve energy. Photo: Pinterest.
Strong jaws. Although they have no incisors or fangs, sloths have very strong jaws, which help them crush tough leaves. Photo: Pinterest.
Low oxygen tolerance. Compared to many other mammals, sloths can survive longer underwater or in low oxygen conditions, thanks to their ability to slow their heart rate and body activity. Photo: Pinterest.
There are two main types. Sloths are divided into two types: two-toed sloths (Choloepus) and three-toed sloths (Bradypus), which differ in the number of toes on their forelimbs. Photo: Pinterest.
Sloths aren't all that lazy. Despite their slow appearance, sloths are very efficient at using their energy, which helps them survive in environments with little food. Photo: Pinterest.
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