Mystery Animal of the Day

Little gnomelet asked me yesterday, "Mama, do you have a new Mystery Animal of the Day?"

And so...

Mama Gnome presents MYSTERY ANIMAL OF THE DAY...

It has a flat, short head, big eyes, long legs and a short tail.

It's the slowest mammal in the world. It moves so minimally algae grows on its fur.

It can hang from tree limbs quite adeptly.

A three-toed species of this animal is critically endangered.


If your guess is Sloth, you win a double high-five and

Mama gnome asks, "Why don't you go volunteer at an animal shelter then?"

Here is a picture of a Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth:
photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bradypus.jpg


Sloths are found in Central and South America.

The pygmy three-toed sloths are critically endangered according to IUCN.

And with continuing loss of habitat and poaching, other species are also threatened.

Sloths are grouped into two families, the three-toed sloths and two-toed sloths.

Here is a picture of a two-toed sloth.


photo from nationalgeographic.com

As you can see the three-toed and two-toed sloths are equally cute and awesome.

The only difference is the two-toed sloths have two fingers. And the three-toed sloths have three fingers.

But all sloths have three toes.

Is that confusing or what?

Never mind.

Just remember the cuteness and awesomeness of both groups are equal as proven by the algebraic formula below:

3 toed-sloth = (100 % cute) + (100% awesome) = 2 toed-sloth


Sloths move at a speed of 1.2 miles per hour or .54 meters per second.

And when it's in a super hurry as in running away from danger it moves at a staggering fifteen feet or 4.5 m. per minute.

The main staple of the sloths' diet are leaves.

Sloths' fur is host not only to algae but also to non-parasitic insects.

Here is a video of this fascinating mammal.

video by http://www.youtube.com/BBCEarth

Mama gnome now feels like slowing down, eating edible leaves and looking cute and awesome.

Hope you've enjoyed learning a little bit about Sloths.

Please visit Mama gnome's garden soon for the next Mystery Animal of the Day.

Go green.

(c) 2009 Jenaelha Friendly Gnome's Blog