Costa Rica"s lush forests are habitats for two sloth species: Hoffmann"s two-toed sloth and the star of today"s homepage, the brown-throated three-toed sloth. Despite being larger than many tree-dwelling mammals, three-toed sloths have adapted by reducing their muscle mass and size to thrive on treetops. Their large stomachs have four chambers, which can make up to 30% of their body weight when full. These shaggy critters are so sedentary that algae grow on their coats. This symbiotic relationship provides them with a greenish hue, offering effective camouflage within the rainforest canopy. In 2021, these slow-moving creatures were declared national symbols in Costa Rica. Then-President Carlos Alvarado signed the initiative into law in 2021 to emphasise the sloths" importance in the country"s ecosystem.
Brown-throated three-toed sloth
Today in History
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Where two continents meet
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A cuddling pair of Taiwan yuhina
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Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, Australia
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Aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland
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SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
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Sway with the Amazonian canopy
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This lesson is going swimmingly
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Earth Day
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Start Point Lighthouse, South Devon, England
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Nimble and stealthy
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Love is in the snow
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The festival of breaking the fast
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Serene waters on a trembling earth
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For Mother’s Day, we salute these marsupial moms
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Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh, India
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An island crossroad of culture
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Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain
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A magnificent place of worship
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Pygmy three-toed sloth baby, Isla Escudo de Veraguas, Panama
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Meet for lunch?
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A window to the Pacific
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Pegadung Rock, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia
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Gayathri Reservoir, Karnataka, India
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Look, but don’t touch
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Connecting the dots
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A sacred water tank in Hampi
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Back to the future
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Is it green with envy?
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The other great barrier reef
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Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia