Endangered Mammal: Maned Three-Toed Sloth (Bradypus Torquatus)
Endangered mammal
The maned-three-toed sloth, also known as the maned sloth is the rarest of the five sloth species and is endemic to Brazil (Macdonald, 2001) . Its name derives from the black mane of hairs, which runs down the back of its neck an over the shoulders. Like other sloths are characterized by their short bodies, long limbs and stumpy tails (Emmons, 1990) . Unusual is its proportions of body parts, with very small eyes, small ears, and a tail that is hidden in the fur , along with a small and round head. Its fur is coarse, long and shaggy, and grows in the opposite direction to most mammals; from the stomach to the back. Their coat is cream and tan and is usually tinged with blue-green algae that lives in the grooves in the hair, provides he species with excellent camouflage, enabling it to blend in perfectly with the trees in which it lives. The reference in the name of three-toes is misleading; all species of the sloths actually have three toes on the hind limbs, but they grouped into two genera which can be differentiate by the number of fingers on the forearm. Three-toed sloths are so-called because they have three digits on each limb (two-toed sloths have three digits on their hind limbs, but just two on their forelimbs) (Macdonald, 2001) . Each digit ends in curved claws, measuring up to 4 inches long which the sloth use to hook around tree branches. Three-toed sloths also have an elongated neck due to an additional vertebra. This allows greater flexibility movement in the head enables them to turn the neck through an arc of 270 degrees. The maned three-toed sloth belongs to the genus Bradypus, which is only have five other species of three-toed sloths and most are threatened or endangered. Bradypus belongs to the family of Bradypodidae, which has no other members but the genus Bradypus. Brypodidae belongs to the suborder Folivora, which is the sloth in general, as it contains only one other family – Megalonychidae, or two-toed sloths. The full
The maned-three-toed sloth, also known as the maned sloth is the rarest of the five sloth species and is endemic to Brazil (Macdonald, 2001) . Its name derives from the black mane of hairs, which runs down the back of its neck an over the shoulders. Like other sloths are characterized by their short bodies, long limbs and stumpy tails (Emmons, 1990) . Unusual is its proportions of body parts, with very small eyes, small ears, and a tail that is hidden in the fur , along with a small and round head. Its fur is coarse, long and shaggy, and grows in the opposite direction to most mammals; from the stomach to the back. Their coat is cream and tan and is usually tinged with blue-green algae that lives in the grooves in the hair, provides he species with excellent camouflage, enabling it to blend in perfectly with the trees in which it lives. The reference in the name of three-toes is misleading; all species of the sloths actually have three toes on the hind limbs, but they grouped into two genera which can be differentiate by the number of fingers on the forearm. Three-toed sloths are so-called because they have three digits on each limb (two-toed sloths have three digits on their hind limbs, but just two on their forelimbs) (Macdonald, 2001) . Each digit ends in curved claws, measuring up to 4 inches long which the sloth use to hook around tree branches. Three-toed sloths also have an elongated neck due to an additional vertebra. This allows greater flexibility movement in the head enables them to turn the neck through an arc of 270 degrees. The maned three-toed sloth belongs to the genus Bradypus, which is only have five other species of three-toed sloths and most are threatened or endangered. Bradypus belongs to the family of Bradypodidae, which has no other members but the genus Bradypus. Brypodidae belongs to the suborder Folivora, which is the sloth in general, as it contains only one other family – Megalonychidae, or two-toed sloths. The full