Sloth

Sloths are slow-moving, tree-dwelling mammals native to Central and South America. Depending on species, adults commonly weigh about 8–20 pounds, with males and females generally similar in size. Sloths have long limbs, curved claws, shaggy coats, and slow metabolisms adapted to a leaf-based diet. Their fur is usually brown, gray, or tan and may host algae that gives a greenish appearance in humid forests. Sloths are solitary, arboreal, and mostly nocturnal or crepuscular. In the United States, sloths have been kept in zoos since the early 20th century and later became popular in some educational ambassador-animal programs.