Three-toe Sloth, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica (2015)

            The town of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui lies two hours northeast of San José. It is home to 400 species of birds, 450 species of trees and over 100 species of mammals and is situated in one of the last remaining areas of primary rainforest in Costa Rica.

The three-toed sloth is a tree-dwelling mammal found throughout Central and South America. ‘Three-toed’ refers to its three claws on each limb. There are four species of three-toed sloths, two of which are found in the Amazon rainforest. The brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) is the most widely distributed three-toed sloth. All sloths have three digits on their hindlimbs; the difference is found in the number of digits on the forelimbs.

The three-toed sloth’s body is adapted to hang by its limbs. Large, curved claws and muscles specifically adapted for strength and stamina help sloths to keep a strong grip on tree branches.

Although most mammals have seven neck vertebrae, three-toed sloth has eight or nine, which enables its head to turn through a 270° arc. Its long, coarse fur often appears greenish due to algae growing on it. The greenish color and sluggish habits provide an effective camouflage; hanging quietly, sloths resemble a bundle of leaves.

It lives high in the canopy, but descends once a week to defecate on the forest floor. During this week-long interval the feces and urine accumulate to about a third of its total body mass. It takes about a month for a single leaf to pass through the four-chambered stomach and digestive tract. Because of the slow metabolism, it does not need to ingest many leaves on a daily basis.

Taken in: Costa Rica / Provincia de Heredia / Puerto Viejo / Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui (show map)

Taken on: February 8, 2015

Tags:

Travel Footprints

Three-toe Sloth

Costa Rica

2015 « less

Sets appears in: • Travel Footprints

Camera: Nikon 1 V2, f/7.1, 1/100 sec, 245.7mm, ISO 160 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon 1 V2
Aperture:	f/7.1
Exposure Time:	0.01 sec (1/100)
Focal Length:	245.7mm
ISO:	160
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Shutter speed priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	ViewNX-i 1.4 W
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