Maned sloth

The maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus) is a three-toed sloth that lives only in Brazil. It is one of four species of three-toed sloth.

Maned sloth[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Pilosa
Family: Bradypodidae
Genus: Bradypus
Species:
B. torquatus
Binomial name
Bradypus torquatus
Illiger, 1811
Maned sloth range

Distribution and habitat

The maned sloth is now found only in the Atlantic coastal rainforest of southeastern Brazil, although it was once also found further north.[3][4] It has been identified predominantly from evergreen forests, although, being able to eat a wide range of leaves, it can also inhabit semi-deciduous and secondary forest. It is typically found in hot, humid climates without any dry season, and with annual rainfall of at least 120 centimetres (47 in).[2] There are no recognized subspecies.

Anatomy and morphology

Maned sloths have a pale brown to gray pelage. Long outer hair covers a short, dense, black and white underfur. The coarse outer coat is usually inhabited by algae, mites, ticks, beetles, and moths. The maned sloth's small head features fur-covered pinnae and anterior oriented eyes that are usually covered by a mask of black hair. The sides of the maned sloth's face and neck feature long hair covering the short hair of the sloth's snout. Facial vibrissae on the maned sloth are sparse.[5] The maned sloth earns its name from a mane of black hair running down its neck and over its shoulders.[3] The mane is usually larger and darker in males than in females, and in the latter, may be reduced to a pair of long tufts. Other than the mane, the fur is relatively uniform in color, and, in particular, the males lack the patch of bright fur found on the back of other, closely related, sloths.[6]

Adult males have a total head-body length of 55 to 72 centimetres (22 to 28 in), with a tail about 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long and a weight of 4.0 to 7.5 kilograms (8.8 to 16.5 lb). Females are generally larger, measuring 55 to 75 centimetres (22 to 30 in), and weighing 4.5 to 10.1 kilograms (9.9 to 22.3 lb).[6] Like all other sloths, the maned sloth has very little muscle mass in comparison to other mammals its size. This reduced muscle mass allows it to hang from thin branches.

Ecology and behavior

Maned sloths are solitary diurnal animals, spending from 60 to 80% of their day asleep, with the rest more or less equally divided between feeding and travelling.[7] Sloths sleep in crotches of trees or by dangling from branches by their legs and tucking their head in between their forelegs.[8]

Maned sloths are folivores, and feed exclusively on tree and liana leaves, especially Cecropia. Although individual animals seem to prefer leaves from particular species of tree, the species as a whole is able to adapt to a wide range of tree types.[6] Younger leaves are preferred to older, and tree leaves are preferred to liana leaves.[9] Individual maned sloths have reported to travel over a home range of 0.5 to 6 hectares (1.2 to 14.8 acres), with estimated population densities of 0.1 to 1.25 per hectare (0.040 to 0.506/acre).[6]

Maned sloths rarely descend from the trees because, when on a level surface, they are unable to stand and walk, only being able to drag themselves along with their front legs and claws. They travel to the ground only to defecate or to move between trees when they cannot do so through the branches. The sloth's main defenses are to stay still and to lash out with its formidable claws. It can swim well but does not move well on the ground.[10]

Life history

Although some reports indicate that maned sloths are able to breed year round,[11] others have observed that the majority of births occur between February and April.[12] The mother gives birth to a single young, which initially weighs around 300 grams (11 oz) and lacks the distinctive mane found on adults. The young begin to take solid food at two weeks, and are fully weaned by two to four months of age.[13] The young leave the mother at between nine and eleven months of age. Although their lifespan has not been studied in detail, they have been reported to live for at least twelve years.[13]

Conservation

In 1955, the maned sloth occurred only in Bahia, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro in eastern Brazil, in the Bahia coastal forests. It has declined since then as these forests have dwindled. The major threat to the maned sloth is the loss of its forest habitat as a result of lumber extraction, charcoal production, and clearance for plantations and cattle pastures. Excessive hunting is also a threat.

References
  1. Gardner, A. (2005). "Bradypus torquatus". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Chiarello, A. & Moraes-Barros, N. (2014). "Bradypus torquatus". The IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. IUCN. 2014: e.T3036A47436575. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T3036A47436575.en. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  3. ZSL Living Conservation (2010). "Maned three-toed sloth (Bradypus torquatus)". Evolutionary Distinct & Globally Endangered. ZSL Living Conservation. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2010. This species is named after its long mane of black hair
  4. World Land Trust (2010). "Maned Three-toed Sloth Bradypus torquatus". World Land Trust. World Land Trust. Retrieved 6 June 2010. The Maned Three-toed Sloth, also known as the Maned Sloth is the rarest of the sloth species and is endemic to Brazil
  5. Gardner, Alfred (2008). Mammals of South America: Marsupials, xenarthrans, shrews, and bats. 1. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-226-28242-8. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  6. Hayssen, V. (2009). "Bradypus torquatus (Pilosa: Bradypodidae)". Mammalian Species. 829: 1–5. doi:10.1644/829.1.
  7. Chiarello, Adriano G. (September 1998a). "Activity budgets and ranging patterns of the Atlantic forest maned sloth". Journal of Zoology. 246 (1): 1–10. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1998.tb00126.x.
  8. Stewart, Melissa (2004). "At the Zoo: Slow and Steady Sloths". Zoogoer. Friends of the National Zoo. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  9. Chiarello, Adriano G. (September 1998b). "Diet of the Atlantic forest maned sloth Bradypus torquatus". Journal of Zoology. 246 (1): 11–19. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1998.tb00127.x.
  10. "Maned Three-Toed Sloth: The Animal Files". www.theanimalfiles.com. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  11. Pinder, L. (1993). "Body measurements, karyotype, and birth frequencies of maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus)". Mammalia. 57 (1): 43–48. doi:10.1515/mamm.1993.57.1.43. S2CID 84663329.
  12. Dias, B.B.; et al. (2009). "First observation on mating and reproductive seasonality in maned sloths Bradypus torquatus (Pilosa: Bradypodidae)". Journal of Ethology. 27 (1): 97–103. doi:10.1007/s10164-008-0089-9. S2CID 9320097.
  13. Lara-Ruiz, P. & Chiarello, A.G. (2005). "Life-history traits and sexual dimorphism of the Atlantic forest maned sloth Bradypus torquatus (Xenarthra: Bradypodidae)". Journal of Zoology. 267 (1): 63–73. doi:10.1017/S0952836905007259.
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