Sloth evolution

Introduction

There are two families of sloths, the two-toed sloth and the three-toed sloth, but there are six different species total. Two-toed sloths belong to the genus Choloepus and three-toed sloths belong to the genus Bradypus. Known for their slow movements and inefficient digestive systems, these creatures populate South American and Central American rainforests. Their diets mainly consist of leaves and fruits. All species of sloths spend their time in the rainforest canopy, spending between 15-20 hours a day sleeping, and only venturing to the floor in order to defecate. The forest floor is full of predators that sloths mainly avoid by hiding in the forest canopy. Their slow movements are due to their extremely slow metabolism, as they attempt to conserve energy by controlling movement speed.

Bradypus pygmaeus, a species of three-toed sloth, holding its baby. https://www.biographic.com/keeping-pygmy-sloths-afloat/

Section 1 Genetics

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Despite the similarities between Bradypus and Choloepus appear very small, they actually evolved through convergent evolution. This is where organisms with different ancestors or from different times evolved similar phenotypical traits.

Section 2 Microbiome

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Conclusion

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References

Edited by Cassandra Lis, student of Joan Slonczewski for BIOL 116 Information in Living Systems, 2019, Kenyon College.