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Sloths are very unique animals only found in Central and South America. They are arboreal, which means they are adapted to spend a lot of time in the trees! Everything about them is made to work really well upside down, even their hair grows upside down, going from their bellies to their backs, the opposite from most other animals covered in fur! Life in the Slow Lane Sloths are herbivores, they mostly eat leaves. Leaves are not very nutritious so move very slowly to conserve energy. It also helps them to camouflage from predators like Harpy Eagles, Jaguars and Ocelots. The Little Rock Zoo works with the Linne’s Two Toed Sloth Species Survival Plan, which helps to protect this amazing species in zoos and in the wild! Want to Learn more? Check out these links and activities! Sloth Conservation Foundation: https://slothconservation.com/about-the-sloth/two-fingered-sloths/ https://slothconservation.com/about-sloco/sloco-overview/ National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/h/hoffmans-two-toed-sloth/ Other: BBC Earth - Why Sloths are Weird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnAq27SvCiw San Diego Zoo: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/two-toed-sloth Sloths are well adapted for hanging upside down, the only time they are on the ground is to use the bathroom, which happens about once a week. Cut out the puzzle pieces to make the picture of our Linne’s Two-Toed Sloth, Rosalie! .

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Xenarthrans: 'Aliens'
Vet Times The website for the veterinary profession https://www.vettimes.co.uk XENARTHRANS: ‘ALIENS’ ON EARTH Author : JONATHAN CRACKNELL Categories : Vets Date : August 4, 2008 JONATHAN CRACKNELL finds that hanging around with sloths and their fellow Xenarthrans offers up exciting challenges XENARTHRANS: the name sounds like a race from a low-budget science fiction film. This is actually a super-order of mammals that get their name from their “alien” joint, which is exhibited in the vertebral joints. The Xenarthrans include 31 living species: six species of sloth, four anteaters and 21 species of armadillos – all of which originated in South America. Historically, these animals were classified within the order Edentata (meaning “without teeth”), which included pangolins and aardvarks. It was realised that this was a polyphyletic group, containing unrelated families. Therefore, the Xenarthra order was created. The Xenarthrans are a well-represented order in captivity, with banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) becoming one of the new “exotic” exotics to be presented to clinicians. In zoological collections, giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), southern tamanduas (Tamandua tetradactyla), and sloths (typically the southern two-toed sloth – Choloepus didactylus – although others are present) are among the more common species housed in captivity. Every species has its own needs and oddities. With this brief review of each species, the author will look at basic anatomy and physiology, along with a quick review of some of the more commonly reported complaints for this group of animals. 1 / 14 Giant anteater The giant anteater’s most obvious feature is its long tongue and bushy tail. They are approximately 1.5 to two metres long and weigh in the region of 18kg to 45kg.
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Introduction Recent Classifications Regard the Order Pilosa, Anteaters
Introduction Recent classifications regard the order Pilosa, anteaters and sloths, and order Cingulata, the armadillos, within the superorder Xenarthra meaning “strange joints”. In the past, Pilosa and Cingulata wer regarded as suborders of the order Xenarthra, with the armadillos. Earlier still, both armadillos and pilosans were classified together with pangolins and the aardvark as the order Edentata meaning “toothless”. The orders Pilosa and Cingulata are distinguishable as the cingulatas have an armoured upper body and the pilosa have fur. Studies have concluded that sloths, anteaters, and armadillos diverged at least 75-80 million years ago and that they are as different from one another as are carnivores, bats and primates. The Pilosa are now considered almost exclusively a New World order, however, fossil records indicate that they were once found in Europe and possibly Asia. This order may have been distributed worldwide in the Cretaceous period, but became limited to South America and have remained there for most of their history and evolved into numerous groups. The Pilosa were once far more diverse than they are today; there are known to be 10 times as many fossil as living genera. The superorder is distinguished from all others by what are known as the xenarthrous vertebrae. There are secondary and sometimes even more, articulations between the vertebrae of the lumbar (lower back) series. In other words, consecutive vertebrae connect in more than one place. In addition, the pelvis connects with more of the spine than in other mammals. These adaptations to the spine give support, particularly to the hips. The name Xenarthra refers to this peculiarity of the spine and modem taxonomy places these three groups of animals together, even though they are very different from one another and they are highly specialized.
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Proving: Two-Toed Sloth (Choloepus Didactylus) Date: October 2017 by Mani Norland, Luke Norland & the School of Homeopathy
Orchard Leigh · Rodborough Hill · Stroud · Gloucestershire · GL5 3SS T: +44 (0)1453 765 956 · E: [email protected] www.homeopathyschool.com Proving: Two-toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus) Date: October 2017 By Mani Norland, Luke Norland & The School of Homeopathy. The Homeopathic Proving of Choloepus didactylus 2 Latin Name Choloepus didactylus. Common Names Two-toed sloth. Hoffmann's two-toed sloth. Linnaeus's two-toed sloth. Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Pilosa Suborder: Folivora Family: Choloepodidae Genus: Choloepus Sophia Müller, Unsplash(1) About (1, 2) The remedy was prepared from a hair sample and run-up to the 30th centesimal potency by the proving group led by Mani Norland and John Morgan. There were 13 female and 2 male provers; each taking a single dose. The proving was fully supervised for a period of 2 months. The diaries were then collated and repertorised by Luke Norland. Whilst the name "sloth" means lazy or idle, the slow movements of this mammal are a useful adaptation for surviving on a low-energy diet of leaves. They are so solitary in their nature that it is even uncommon for two to be found together in the same tree. The sloth spends almost its entire life, including eating, sleeping, mating, and giving birth, hanging upside down from tree branches. However, when the time comes for urination and defecation they slowly make their way to the ground. This seems to be rather a behavioural quirk, as whilst earthbound they are almost defenceless. Their shaggy coat has grooved hair which plays host to a symbiotic green algae, providing both camouflage and nutrients.
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Taphonomy and Significance of Jefferson's Ground Sloth (Xenarthra: Megalonychidae) from Utah
Western North American Naturalist Volume 61 Number 1 Article 9 1-29-2001 Taphonomy and significance of Jefferson's ground sloth (Xenarthra: Megalonychidae) from Utah H. Gregory McDonald Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, Hagerman, Idaho Wade E. Miller Thomas H. Morris Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan Recommended Citation McDonald, H. Gregory; Miller, Wade E.; and Morris, Thomas H. (2001) "Taphonomy and significance of Jefferson's ground sloth (Xenarthra: Megalonychidae) from Utah," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 61 : No. 1 , Article 9. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol61/iss1/9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Western North American Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Western North American Naturalist 61(1), © 2001, pp. 64–77 TAPHONOMY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF JEFFERSON’S GROUND SLOTH (XENARTHRA: MEGALONYCHIDAE) FROM UTAH H. Gregory McDonald1, Wade E. Miller2, and Thomas H. Morris2 ABSTRACT.—While a variety of mammalian megafauna have been recovered from sediments associated with Lake Bonneville, Utah, sloths have been notably rare. Three species of ground sloth, Megalonyx jeffersonii, Paramylodon har- lani, and Nothrotheriops shastensis, are known from the western United States during the Pleistocene. Yet all 3 are rare in the Great Basin, and the few existing records are from localities on the basin margin. The recent discovery of a partial skeleton of Megalonyx jeffersonii at Point-of-the-Mountain, Salt Lake County, Utah, fits this pattern and adds to our understanding of the distribution and ecology of this extinct species.
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Xenarthra: Megatheriidae) Were in Chile?: New Evidences from the Bahía Inglesa Formation, with a Reappraisal of Their Biochronological Affinities
Andean Geology ISSN: 0718-7092 ISSN: 0718-7106 [email protected] Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería Chile How many species of the aquatic sloth Thalassocnus (Xenarthra: Megatheriidae) were in Chile?: new evidences from the Bahía Inglesa Formation, with a reappraisal of their biochronological affinities Peralta-Prat, Javiera; Solórzano, Andrés How many species of the aquatic sloth Thalassocnus (Xenarthra: Megatheriidae) were in Chile?: new evidences from the Bahía Inglesa Formation, with a reappraisal of their biochronological affinities Andean Geology, vol. 46, no. 3, 2019 Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Chile Available in: https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=173961656010 This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International. PDF generated from XML JATS4R by Redalyc Project academic non-profit, developed under the open access initiative Javiera Peralta-Prat, et al. How many species of the aquatic sloth Thalassocnus (Xenarthra: Megath... Paleontological Note How many species of the aquatic sloth alassocnus (Xenarthra: Megatheriidae) were in Chile?: new evidences from the Bahía Inglesa Formation, with a reappraisal of their biochronological affinities ¿Cuántas especies del perezoso acuático alassocnus (Xenarthra: Megatheriidae) existieron en Chile?: nuevas evidencias de la Formación Bahía Inglesa, con una revisión de sus afinidades biocronológicas. Javiera Peralta-Prat 1 Redalyc: https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa? Universidad de Concepción, Chile id=173961656010 [email protected] Andrés Solórzano *2 Universidad de Concepción, Chile [email protected] Received: 13 July 2018 Accepted: 27 November 2018 Published: 04 February 2019 Abstract: e aquatic sloth, alassocnus, is one of the most intriguing lineage of mammal known from the southern pacific coast of South America during the late Neogene.
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Mammals at Woodland Park Zoo Pre-Visit Information
Mammals at Woodland Park Zoo Pre-visit Information If you are planning a zoo field trip and wish to have your students focus on mammals during their visit, this pre- visit sheet can help them get the most out of their time at the zoo. We have put together an overview of key concepts related to mammals, a list of basic vocabulary words, and a checklist of mammal species at Woodland Park Zoo. Knowledge and understanding of these main ideas will enhance your students’ zoo visit. OVERVIEW: There are over 5,000 species of mammals currently identified worldwide, inhabiting a number of different biomes and exhibiting a range of adaptations. Woodland Park Zoo exhibits a wide variety of mammal species (see attached checklist) in several different areas of the zoo. A mammal field trip to the zoo could focus on the characteristics of mammals (see “Concepts” below), comparing/contrasting different mammals or learning about biomes and observing the physical characteristics of mammals in different biomes. CONCEPTS: Mammals share the following physical characteristics: • Fur or hair • Endothermic, often called warm-blooded. Endothermic animals maintain a constant internal body temperature rather than adjusting to the temperature of their surroundings as ectothermic animals (such as reptiles and amphibians) do. • Mammary glands, which are used to feed milk to young Mammals, like all plants and animals, have five basic needs to survive—food, water, shelter, air and space. They inhabit every continent on the planet and range in size from Kitti’s hog-nosed bat (also called bumblebee bat) at 0.07 ounces (2 grams) to the blue whale at 100 tons (approximately 90,000 kilograms).
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IUCN SSC Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group
IUCN SSC Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group 2019 Report Mariella Superina Chair Mission statement Plan Mariella Superina (1) The mission of the IUCN SSC Anteater, Sloth and Planning: plan for protection of Brazilian Three- Armadillo Specialist Group is to promote the banded Armadillo and Pygmy Three-toed Sloth. Red List Authority Coordinator long-term conservation of the extant species of Act Agustín M. Abba (2) xenarthrans (anteaters, sloths and armadillos) Conservation actions: effective protection of and their habitats. Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo and Pygmy Location/Affiliation Three-toed Sloth. (1) IMBECU - CCT CONICET Mendoza, Mendoza, Projected impact for the 2017-2020 Network quadrennium Argentina Capacity building: (1) teach five training courses; (2) CEPAVE, La Plata, Argentina By the end of 2020, we envision the Anteater, (2) train Argentinean mammalogists in Red List Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group (ASASG) assessments. Number of members will have achieved increased protection for Proposal development and funding: secure 26 our priority species, the Critically Endangered funding to replenish the Xenarthra Conserva- Pygmy Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus) tion Fund. Social networks and the Vulnerable Brazilian Three-banded Synergy: enter into partnership with zoological Armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus). We aim to Facebook: institutions. IUCN/SSC Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo reach this goal by increasing scientific knowl- Communicate Specialist Group edge, raising awareness, developing and imple- Communication: (1) publish four issues of the Website: www.xenarthrans.org menting comprehensive action plans and securing protection of their habitat. Capacity ASASG Newsletter; (2) increase awareness building through training courses will allow us to through campaigns at zoos and other institu- increase the number of researchers dedicated tions; (3) increase awareness for Xenarthra.
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Palaeoproteomics Resolves Sloth Relationships
ARTICLES https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-019-0909-z Palaeoproteomics resolves sloth relationships Samantha Presslee1,2,3,24, Graham J. Slater4,24, François Pujos5, Analía M. Forasiepi5, Roman Fischer 6, Kelly Molloy7, Meaghan Mackie3,8, Jesper V. Olsen 8, Alejandro Kramarz9, Matías Taglioretti10, Fernando Scaglia10, Maximiliano Lezcano11, José Luis Lanata 11, John Southon12, Robert Feranec13, Jonathan Bloch14, Adam Hajduk15, Fabiana M. Martin16, Rodolfo Salas Gismondi 17, Marcelo Reguero18, Christian de Muizon19, Alex Greenwood20,21, Brian T. Chait 7, Kirsty Penkman22, Matthew Collins3,23 and Ross D. E. MacPhee2* The living tree sloths Choloepus and Bradypus are the only remaining members of Folivora, a major xenarthran radiation that occupied a wide range of habitats in many parts of the western hemisphere during the Cenozoic, including both continents and the West Indies. Ancient DNA evidence has played only a minor role in folivoran systematics, as most sloths lived in places not conducive to genomic preservation. Here we utilize collagen sequence information, both separately and in combination with published mitochondrial DNA evidence, to assess the relationships of tree sloths and their extinct relatives. Results from phylo- genetic analysis of these datasets differ substantially from morphology-based concepts: Choloepus groups with Mylodontidae, not Megalonychidae; Bradypus and Megalonyx pair together as megatherioids, while monophyletic Antillean sloths may be sister to all other folivorans. Divergence estimates are consistent with fossil evidence for mid-Cenozoic presence of sloths in the West Indies and an early Miocene radiation in South America. he sloths (Xenarthra, Folivora), nowadays a taxonomically consensus8–10,16,17 in morphology-based phylogenetic treatments is narrow (six species in two genera) component of the fauna of to place the three-toed sloth as sister to all other folivorans (Fig.
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Informes Individuales IUCN 2018.Indd
IUCN SSC Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group 2018 Report Mariella Superina Chair Mission statement Three-banded Armadillo and the Pygmy Mariella Superina (1) The mission of the IUCN SSC Anteater, Sloth and Three-toed Sloth. Armadillo Specialist Group is to promote the Act Red List Authority Coordinator long-term conservation of the extant species of Conservation actions: effective protection for Agustín M. Abba (2) xenarthrans (anteaters, sloths and armadillos) the Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo and the and their habitats. Pygmy Three-toed Sloth. Location/Affiliation Network Projected impact for the 2017-2020 (1) IMBECU - CCT CONICET Mendoza, Mendoza, Capacity building: (1) five training courses quadrennium Argentina taught; (2) train Argentinean mammalogists in (2) CEPAVE, La Plata, Argentina By the end of 2020, we envision the Anteater, Sloth Red List assessments. and Armadillo Specialist Group (ASASG) will have Proposal development and funding: secure Number of members achieved increased protection for our priority funding to replenish the Xenarthra Conserva- 25 species, the Critically Endangered Pygmy Three- tion Fund. toed Sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus) and the Vulner- Synergy: enter into partnership with zoological able Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo (Tolypeutes Social networks institutions. tricinctus). We aim to reach this goal by increasing Facebook: Communicate IUCN/SSC Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Special- scientific knowledge, raising awareness, devel- Communication: (1) four issues of the ASASG ist Group oping and implementing comprehensive action Newsletter published; (2) increase awareness. Website: plans and securing protection of their habitat. www.xenarthrans.org Capacity building through training courses will allow us to increase the number of researchers Activities and results 2018 dedicated to conservation-relevant research on Assess armadillos, sloths and anteaters.
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Ectoparasitic Skin Diseases of Two-Toed and Three-Toed Sloths in Costa Rica
Ectoparasitic Skin Diseases of Two-toed and Three-toed Sloths in Costa Rica Stephanie Dewell Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Clay Britton epartent of iology Abstract total of sloths in the wil and in captiity eight ariegats and eight C hoffanni were ealate for eratitis oer a twowee period in anuel ntonio Costa ica. ungal cultre sin impression an sin scrapings were conucted on each inividual case in order to follow the differential diagnostic ini ataase of sall anial deratology Captie population saples were taen fro a willife sanctary and he loth nstitute Costa ica rehabilitation facility definitie iagnosis was not possible in fie of the cases In the captie population si B. ariegats and fie C hoffanni), eratophytosis by icrosporu gypseu was etecte in three C hoffanni adults 7%), sarcoptic ange in three pruritic ariegats infants 7%), and pyotrauatic deratitis in one adult C hoffanni (6.2%). oonotic ectoparasites were found eclsiely in the captie sloth populations at the willife sanctary Fie sloths fro the wil presented with sin lesions electric shock trauma fro telephone wires was the primary cause of of these lesions and secondary alassezia eratitis 3% and pyotrauatic deratitis (12.5% were confired with sin ipression The general trends of the trial inicate that the ost prealent cause of deratitis was zoonotic ectoparasites 37.5%) roper anageent and increased iological security in captive poplations ay contribute to the prevention of disease transmission Introduction Brayps ariegats an Choloeps hoffanni respectiely nown as the three-toe an two-toe sloths are inhaitants of tropical rainforests of the Cariean an acific regions of Central an oth erica cCarthy et al.
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Sloth Bear Melursus Ursinus
Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae Characteristics: Sloth bears are unique looking bears. These are mostly black bears with a V or Y whitish cream marking on the chest. The fur is long and shaggy. The long muzzle is also pale in color, mostly due to lack of fur in the area. Sloth bears have very long, flexible lips that are adapted for their diet of insects. They have very long claws for digging. Sloth bears are sometimes also called honey bears or lip bears. (Arkive) This species has the ability to close its nostrils so ant, termites, dirt, or bees do not get into the nose. These are medium size bears at about 5-6 feet long, 2-3 feet high at the shoulder, and weigh 120-310 pounds. (National Zoo) Behavior: Sloth bears are solitary creatures, living alone except during Range & Habitat: breeding season. They are generally nocturnal, especially when living in Most common in lowland forests an area near humans. These bears have been seen climbing high up trees of India and Sri Lanka. Some bears to knock down a honeycomb. (National Geographic) Sloth bears will stand in Nepal, and Bhutan on their hind legs and vocalize if threatened. They are not afraid to defend themselves against tigers, leopards, or humans. (Animal Diversity) These bears use their long claws to tear into termite mounds, then suck in to vacuum up all the insects within. (Arkive) Reproduction: Sloth bears only come together during breeding season. The female uses delayed implantation to decide the best time for her pregnancy and birthing.
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Evolution of Body Size in Anteaters and Sloths (Xenarthra, Pilosa): Phylogeny, Metabolism, Diet and Substrate Preferences N
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 106, 289–301, 2017 Evolution of body size in anteaters and sloths (Xenarthra, Pilosa): phylogeny, metabolism, diet and substrate preferences N. Toledo1,2, M.S. Bargo2,3, S.F. Vizcaıńo1,2, G. De Iuliis4 and F. Pujos5 1 CONICET – La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina. Email: [email protected] 2 Divisioń Paleontologıá Vertebrados, Unidades de Investigacioń Anexo Museo FCNyM-UNLP, Av. 60 y 122, 1900, La Plata, Argentina. 3 Comisioń de Investigaciones Cientı´ficas, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 4 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto M5S 3G5, Ontario, Canada; Section of Palaeobiology, Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park Crescent, Toronto M5S 2C6, Ontario, Canada. 5 IANIGLA,CCT-CONICET-Mendoza,Av.RuizLeals/n,ParqueGral.SanMartıń, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina. ABSTRACT: Pilosa include anteaters (Vermilingua) and sloths (Folivora). Modern tree sloths are represented by two genera, Bradypus and Choloepus (both around 4–6 kg), whereas the fossil record is very diverse, with approximately 90 genera ranging in age from the Oligocene to the early Holocene. Fossil sloths include four main clades, Megalonychidae, Megatheriidae, Nothrotheriidae, and Mylo- dontidae, ranging in size from tens of kilograms to several tons. Modern Vermilingua are represented by three genera, Cyclopes, Tamandua and Myrmecophaga, with a size range from 0.25 kg to about 30 kg, and their fossil record is scarce and fragmentary. The dependence of the body size on phylo- genetic pattern of Pilosa is analysed here, according to current cladistic hypotheses.
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