Slothsย are masters of living life in the slow lane. These tree-hugging mammals, split into two-toed and three-toed varieties,ย travel only about 125 feet a dayย โ so slowly that moss and algae grow on their fur. This lethargic lifestyle is actually a survival strategy suitable for theirย slow metabolismsย and low-calorie diets, which are mostly based on tree leaves. In fact,
Three Toed Sloth
three-toed slothsย have the slowest metabolismย of any mammal (followed closely by pandas and two-toed sloths).
Their sluggish metabolism, as well as their ability to slow their heart toย one-third its normal rate, give sloths an
Two Toed Sloth
unexpected superpower โ they can hold their breath for an impressively long time. With estimates suggesting that some two-toed sloths can hold theirย breath for upwards of 40 minutes, this makes sloths better at conserving oxygen than even some marine mammals such as dolphins, who can only hold their breathย for 15 minutes, max. The sloth breathing technique, aided by theย design of their lungs, helps make sloths excellent swimmers. So while their leisurely lifestyle may seem a bit lazy to the untrained eye, donโt blame the sloth โ theyโre just built that way.
Media Release/InterestingFacts.com
