Panama

MY FAMILYCHARACTERISTICS

VIDEO

I live in a tiny area of red mangrove forests on Isla Escudo de Veraguas, Panama. These forests surround the island at near sea level.

PYGMY THREE-TOED SLOTH

A male sloth usually stays in the same patch of trees for his entire life, but female sloths move after giving birth, leaving her tree to the offspring.

• arkive.org/pygmy-three-toed-sloth/bradypus-pygmaeus/video-00.html

• arkive.org/pygmy-three-toed-sloth/bradypus-pygmaeus/video-08.html

• arkive.org/pygmy-three-toed-sloth/bradypus-pygmaeus/video-06.html

Hi, I am the pygmy three-toed sloth. I am known for moving incredibly slow and spending most of my time sleeping in trees. Read on to discover more interesting facts about me.

• Ihaveblotchy,palegrey-brownfurandatan-colouredfacewithadistinctivedarkbandacrossmy forehead.

• Mylong,shaggyhairthathangsovertheface,gives me a hooded appearance.

• Iweigh2.5-3.5kg.

• Imovethroughthecanopyoftheforestveryslowly,atarateofabout35metersperday.

WEAR IT WILD

Watch footage of me:

WhereI live

I have unusual means of camouflage to avoid predation; my outer fur is often

coated in green algae, which helps hide me in my forest habitat.

DID YOU KNOW

© B

ill Hatcher/N

ational Geographic C

reative/Corbis

EXTINCT IN THE WILD

EW

VULNERABLE

VU

DATADEFICIENT

DD

NOT EVALUATED

NE

EXTINCT

EX

LEAST CONCERN

LC

NEARTHREATENED

NT

ENDANGERED

EN

CRITICALLYENDANGERED

CR

EXTINCT IN THE WILD

EW

ENDANGERED

EN

VULNERABLE

VU

DATADEFICIENT

DD

NOT EVALUATED

NE

EXTINCT

EX

LEAST CONCERN

LC

CRITICALLYENDANGERED

CR

NEARTHREATENED

NT

EXTINCT IN THE WILD

EW

ENDANGERED

EN

DATADEFICIENT

DD

NOT EVALUATED

NE

EXTINCT

EX

LEAST CONCERN

LC

NEARTHREATENED

NT

CRITICALLYENDANGERED

CR

VULNERABLE

VU

EXTINCT IN THE WILD

EW

ENDANGERED

EN

VULNERABLE

VU

DATADEFICIENT

DD

NOT EVALUATED

NE

EXTINCT

EX

LEAST CONCERN

LC

NEARTHREATENED

NT

CRITICALLYENDANGERED

CR

EXTINCT IN THE WILD

EW

ENDANGERED

EN

VULNERABLE

VU

DATADEFICIENT

DD

NOT EVALUATED

NE

EXTINCT

EX

CRITICALLYENDANGERED

CR

LEASTCONCERN

LC

NEARTHREATENED

NT

IamclassifiedasCritically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

STATUSWithoutanabundanceoftrees,Iwilllosemyshelterandfoodsource.WhenIcometotheforestfloorIammoreexposedtopredatorsandcandolittletofendthem off. Fortunately, there are conservation efforts taking place that encourage sustainable forestry.

Myhabitatconsistsofoneverysmallislandwhichmakesitevenmoreprecioustome.Althoughnohumansliveontheisland,fishermen,farmers,lobsterdiversandlocalpeopleareallseasonalvisitors,andsomehuntusillegally.Thegrowingtourism industry is also a potential threat to my species, as it disturbs my habitat.

FEEDING

CLASSIFICATION

• Iamaherbivoreandliketoeattheleavesofavarietyoftrees,butmainlyleaves of red mangrove trees.

• Imunchonleaves,twigsandbuds.

DID YOU KNOWI have a very low metabolic rate and many

spend 15 to 20 hours per day sleeping!