Pale-throated Sloth: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Fast and Slow · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. A pale-throated sloth swivels its head almost completely around: 270° forward and back, and a 330° rotation.
2. A sloth's eyes lack cone cells, which suggests it sees only shades of grey.
3. Tiny green algae grow in the scales of a sloth's fur, tinting it a faint green that blends in with the canopy.
4. It can sleep more than eighteen hours a day. Coming down, it digs a hole, leaves a pile of small pellets, and climbs back.
5. Tree dwellers, yet pale-throated sloths are effective swimmers, able to cross water when necessary.

The quiz

1. How far can a pale-throated sloth rotate its head?

• 90°
• 180°
• 330° (correct)
• 720°

It can rotate its head 330°.

2. What does the sloth probably see?

• Only shades of grey (correct)
• Only red and green
• Full colour
• Only black and white dots

Without cone cells it likely sees only shades of grey.

3. What grows in a sloth's fur and tints it green?

• Moss
• Tiny green algae (correct)
• Small ferns
• Lichen

Tiny green algae grow in the scales of its fur.

4. What does a sloth do when it comes down from the trees?

• Hunts insects
• Drinks from a stream
• Builds a nest
• Digs a hole for its pellets (correct)

It digs a hole in the ground and leaves a pile of pellets in it.

5. Despite living in trees, what can pale-throated sloths do well?

• Swim (correct)
• Dive deep
• Run fast
• Glide

They are effective swimmers.

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