The Reason Sloths Are So Slow

May 2024 ยท 1 minute read

Sloths might do well in hell because, according to the BBC, they thrive in warm climates. All six existing species of sloth evolved to live in the tropical trees of Central and South America. Their diets consist of low-calorie leaves that contain few nutrients, forcing their anatomies to adapt by developing a slow metabolism. According to zoologist Becky Cliffe of the Sloth Conservation Foundation, "It takes a sloth an entire month to digest just one leaf."

Because they burn calories slowly, sloths move slowly to conserve energy. In fact, their bodies don't even perform the same internal temperature regulation as faster mammals because they already live in a hot environment, which you could also think of as hell prep. Living in trees lessens the need for speed because most sloths are usually too high off the ground for predators to reach them. One of the only times their congenital slowpokery poses a real danger is when nature calls, and it doesn't call very often. 

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