BRAZIL’S FAUNA
(Page prepared by a nature’s observer)
BRAZIL’S FAUNA
(Page prepared by a nature’s observer)
Sloths (Bradypodidae)
The species of the family Bradypodidae are known as sloths because they
are slow in their movements, and seems that they are lazy for locomotion.
They are tree animals that rarely go to
the soil, just doing it for defecating, when they are exposed to one of
their biggest predators, the jaguar.
Besides being slow, they are excellent
swimmers, and can change tress swimming when the Forest in the Amazonian
region is flood.
There are five species in this family,
all of them occurring in the neotropical region, including Brazil.
They are solitary animals, herbivores,
and they usually feed of embauba budding (Cecropia sp).
Their only defense is the “hug”
when they penetrate their big nails in the enemy, almost always dying both
in this hug.
Species:
Maned three-toed sloth; Bradypus torquatus;Preguiça-preta
Pale-throated three-toed sloth; Bradypus tridactylus;Preguiça-de-três-dedos
Brown-throated three-toed sloth; Bradypus variegatus;Preguiça-de-betinho
Southern two-toed sloth; Choloepus didactylus;Preguiça-de-dois-dedos
Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth; Choloepus hoffmanni;Preguiça-real
Consulted Bibliography:: EMMONS, Louise H. Neotropical Rainforest Mammals. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 1990.
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