Pale-throated Sloth

About the Pale-throated Sloth

The pale-throated sloth (Bradypus tridactylus), occasionally known as the ai, is a species of three-toed sloth that inhabits tropical rainforests in northern South America. It is similar in appearance to, and often confused with, the brown-throated sloth, which has a much wider distribution. Genetic evidence has been interpreted to suggest the two species diverged only around 400,000 years ago, although the most recent evidence indicates the split was closer to 6 million years.

The pale-throated sloth has a rounded head with a blunt nose and small external ears. Its limbs are long and relatively weak, with the arms nearly twice the length of the hindlimbs. Both the hands and feet have three digits, each equipped with long, arched claws, the middle claw being the largest and strongest.

Adult males measure 45 to 55 cm (18 to 22 in) in head-body length, with a short tail of 4 to 6 cm (1.6 to 2.4 in), and weigh between 3.2 and 6 kg (7.1 and 13.2 lb). Females are generally larger, ranging from 50 to 75 cm (20 to 30 in) in length and weighing 3.8 to 6.5 kg (8.4 to 14.3 lb).

The body is covered with coarse guard hairs up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long, with a finer undercoat... Wikipedia →