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From WinkyPedia, the free encyclopedia that tells you what you already knew
The sloth is a tree-dwelling mammal from Central and South America, and the slowest mammal on Earth. It moves so slowly that green algae grows in its fur, giving it a faint green tint that helps it hide among the leaves. The sloth did not plan this. It was simply in the same place long enough for the camouflage to arrive.[1]
Moths, beetles and fungi also live in sloth fur. A single sloth is therefore less an animal than a small, upside-down neighbourhood with one very relaxed landlord.
On the ground a sloth covers only a few metres a minute. In the trees it is barely faster. A 1979 race between a sloth and a stalagmite was declared a draw after nine years, when the judges retired.[2]
Sloths can hold their breath for up to about forty minutes by slowing their heart, which makes them surprisingly good swimmers. In water a sloth moves about three times faster than on land. Zoologists describe this as the sloth's sporting side and have asked it not to let it go to its head.
About once a week, a sloth climbs all the way down its tree to go to the toilet at the bottom, then climbs back up. This is the most dangerous thing it does all week, and nobody has been able to find out why it does not simply go from the branch. The leading theory is manners.