Maned Three-toed Sloth
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| Bradypus torquatus Illiger, 1811 |
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The Maned Three-toed Sloth, also known as an Ai, Bradypus torquatus, is a species of three-toed South American sloth.
The Maned Three-toed Sloth has a small head, tiny eyes and ears, and a small tail hidden in its fur. It is about 50 cm long, and weighs up to 4.5 kg.
Its coarse outer coat is usually inhabited by algae, mites, ticks, beetles, and moths. The coat is dark, long, and manelike around its head, neck, and shoulders. Its underfur is fine, dense, and pale.
The Maned Three-toed Sloth eats the leaves, buds, and soft twigs of a few forest trees, especially those of the Cecropia. It comes to the ground only to defecate, or to move to another tree if it cannot travel through the branches. It rarely descends to the ground because, when it is on a level surface, it is unable to stand and walk. On the ground the sloth can only drag itself along by its longer, stronger front legs and claws. Its main defense is to stay still and unnoticed or to lash out with its formidable claws. It can swim well. The Maned Three-toed Sloth is a solitary animal.
By 1955, the Maned Three-toed Sloth occurred only in Bahia, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro in eastern Brazil, in the Atlantic coastal forests. It has declined since then as these forests have dwindled. The major threat to the maned three-toed sloth is the loss of its forest habitat as a result of lumber extraction, charcoal production, and clearance for plantations and cattle pastures. Excessive hunting is also a threat.
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