Brown-throated three-toed sloth sleeping in cecropia tree, Costa Rica

© Juan Carlos Vindas/Getty Image

Hello from the upside-down!. Brown-throated three-toed sloth in cecropia tree, Costa Rica

Costa Rica's forests are habitats for two sloth species: Hoffmann's two-toed sloth and the star of today's homepage, the brown-throated three-toed sloth. Despite being larger than many other tree-dwelling mammals, three-toed sloths have adapted by reducing their muscle mass and size to thrive on treetops. Their large stomachs have four chambers, which, when full, account for about 30% of their body weight. These shaggy critters are so sedentary that algae grow on their coats, which helps to camouflage them within the rainforest canopy. In 2021, these slow-moving creatures were declared national symbols in Costa Rica. Then-president Carlos Alvarado signed the initiative into law to emphasize the sloths' importance in the country's ecosystem.