The sloth is the slowest animal in the world, averaging just 0.15 miles per hour (0.24 kilometers per hour).
Unlike the fastest animal in the world, sloths move so slowly because they expend very little energy – a trait that has helped them survive for millions of years.
The sloth’s fur also helps it stay cool in the hot jungle environment.
The sloth’s fur is a greenish color, which helps it blend in with the trees. The sloth also has a long tail, which helps it balance as it moves through the trees.
The Diet of the Slowest Animal in the World
The sloth’s diet consists of leaves, flowers, and fruit.
The sloth can eat up to 15% of its body weight in food every day.
Since the sloth moves so slowly, this diet allows it to take in enough energy without expending too much time and energy searching for food.
During the night, or when prey is scarce, the sloth sleeps.
The sloth’s fur also helps keep water from evaporating off of its body as well, which adds to its ability to go long periods of time without water.
Advantages of the Slowest Animal in the World
The sloth’s slow movements have two major advantages: 1) the sloth rarely falls from a branch, and 2) it can ward off predators by being difficult to see.
Many predators mistake the sloth for just another part of the tree.
Even when predators do notice that the sloth is prey, the sloth’s extremely slow movements make them difficult to catch.
The sloth spends most of its time alone, even mating occurs only every six months.
After the baby is born, it will spend up to five months attached to its mother’s belly before emerging into the treetops.
The young stay with their mothers for up to a year.
The sloth is a very slow creature in more ways than one, but its deliberate movements have helped it avoid extinction thus far!
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