Sloths are among the most beloved of jungle animals. The famously sluggish and furry tree-dwellers are found throughout Central and South America, giving off the vibe of relaxed lifestyle. Yet a recent study in the journal PeerJ Life and Environment revealed that sloths' laid back lives are imperiled by the same human-caused problem endangering much of the planet — climate change.
The scientists studied the metabolisms of two-fingered sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni) in both the highland and lowland regions as they respond to various temperatures, particularly those that are anticipated due to climate change. The researchers particularly focused on the animals' core body temperatures and their levels of oxygen consumption. In the process, they discovered that highland sloths experience a sharp spike in their resting metabolic rates as temperatures increase, meaning they will face a high metabolic burden as their ambient temperatures increased by 2º C to 6º C. Because sloths digest food at a rate 24 times slower than most other animals their size, they cannot easily make up for the lack of energy with increased food intake.
