The brown-throated sloth is the commonest sloth species encountered in at Project Amazonas field sites. This species is one of the three-toed sloths, and is active (though not conspicuous!) during the day. A favorite food source are the common and conspicuous Cecropia trees. In addition to being frequently spotted in Cecropia trees along rivers, these sloths are occasionally found crossing rivers where they prove to be capable though slow swimmers. In areas of the Neotropics where dams have been built, rising waters force sloths to swim to higher ground, and they have been found to be one of the most common larger mammals in these areas. Reflecting their abundance, sloths are also an important component of the diets of top Amazon predators including the jaguar and harpy eagle.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
These sloths always appear to be sad! They have poor eyesight, but a good sense of smell. In captivity, they become tame quickly, but wild animals will defend themselves by attempting to bite with long, sharp incisors, or by slashing with their claws. Though slow, they are surprisingly strong. Sloths have low metabolic rates and low body temperature relative to most other mammals. Their diet of 100% leaves requires them to spend long periods of time digesting this nutrient-poor diet - a specialized gut flora (bacteria and protozoans) helps to digest leaves. A sloth may spend days or weeks in the same tree, before moving on to another one.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
Brown-throated sloths are often kept as pets by local people. Most of the time the sloth lives in the roofing timbers of homes, feeding on Cecropia leaves provided by its owners. In most cases, the sloth will eventually descend to the ground, make its way to nearby vegetation, and disappear. Sloths are capable of "walking" on land, even though their normal mode of locomotion is by moving hand over hand while hanging beneath tree branches. Sloths descend from the canopy about once a week - when they come to the ground, they dig a small hole with their stubby tail, defecate, and then climb back up to the canopy. This curious habit must surely put them at risk to terrestrial predators, yet sloth populations seem to be doing just fine!
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
Two-toed sloths are larger than their three-toed counterparts, and are not that closely related. In fact, they belong the mammal family that included the recently extinct giant ground-sloths. As the name implies, two-toed sloths have two toes on their front feet. They are distributed from Central America through the western portions of the Amazon. Two-toed sloths are easily distinguishd from three-toed sloths by their naked (unfurred) faces, and by their lighter, yellowish fur coloration.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by D. Graham
The fur of all sloths is quite coarse and thick. Small grooves on the hairs encourage the establishment of species of algae, which may give a sloth a distinct green tint. The fur also provides a home for various species of predatory beetles, moths, and other insects. Sloths do not appear to be harmed by the assemblage of flora and fauna living in their fur and may actually benefit. The algae may help to camouflague sloths from potential predators, and predatory beetles may help to keep mites, fleas, and other potential 'pests' under control. Two toed-sloths appear to be more nocturnal than the three-toed sloths, and are most often found sleeping during the day. They often closely resemble the ubiquitious arboreal termite nests that are found throughout the Amazon.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
Silky anteaters are a very rarely observed, but probably common inhabitant of Amazon rainforests. Strictly nocturnal, arboreal, and small (the size of a medium squirrel) they are undoubtedly overlooked frequently as they sleep away the day in vine tangles, tree hollows, or thick vegetation in the canopy of the forest.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc.; photo by Devon Graham
Lacking teeth (like other anteaters), silky anteaters depend on a very long, sticky tongue to lap up their food - mostly common species of ants and termites, of which there are plenty in the Amazon! The name comes from the very dense and silky-feeling cream to tan fur.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
The tail of silky anteaters is fully prehensile, effectively giving them a 5th limb with which to manoever in the forest canopy. With the added security of having the tail wrapped around a branch, the front legs with their sharp and enlarged claws are available for ripping open ant and termite nests, or for defense purposes.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
Silky anteaters are completely nocturnal, and have small eyes with poor vision. Their sense of smell is probably excellent, however. They are solitary, but tolerate the presence of other silky anteaters. Females have a single offspring, which clings to its mother for the first months of life. Once weaned, offspring quickly become independent and set off on their own.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
The sharp fore-claws are the silky anteaters main defense, although the dense hair may also make it difficult for predators to get a firm grasp on an animal. The fore-claws are sharp, and a threatened anteater will rear back, exposing its underside. As soon as it feels a touch, however, the anteater doubles over, slashing downward with its claws and attempting to cut or pinch its enemy.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
In addition to providing insulation and possible protection from predators, the thick dense fur of silky anteaters undoubtedly helps to protect them from the bites and stings of ants when an anteater breaks open one of their nests. The anteaters long snout and tongue aid it reaching hard-to-access nests, or the interiors of large termite and ant nests.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
The small mouth of the anteater is visible in this photo. Like the hind feet, the front ones also have a thick pad of tissue which aids in getting a firm grip on small branches and vines.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
This silky anteater is hanging in a defensive posture. At the slightest touch, the anteater swings its upper body forward, attempting to slash or pinch its enemy.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
Thick 'heel' pads enable silky anteaters to firmly grasp small branches and vines. Combined with a firmly attached prehensile tail, it can be quite difficult to dislodge one of these animals!
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
Silky anteaters appear to favor habitats with large numbers of vines and small tree stems. Even though they are rarely seen, these animals are probably quite common. As they are not hunted by people, the main threat that they face is probably conversion of the rainforest to pasture and farmland, though they may be able to survive in isolated forest patches.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
Even if you don't have the opportunity to ever see a silky anteater, it is rewarding to know that such an amazing animal really does exist. For those that have visited the rain forest and searched high and low looking for one, the search itself is fun and rewarding. And when you do finally encounter a silky anteater, the thrill is all the stronger because of the effort required.
@ Donal Boyer; photo by Donal Boyer
The largest of the anteaters, giant anteaters are impressive animals that reputedly can even kill a foolish attacking jaguar by piercing it with their large and powerful claws. Virtually blind, giant anteaters are, however, very inoffensive, and attack only ant and termite nests unless they are threated by a predator when they will act in self defense.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
Giant anteaters are rare in the Amazon, and were formerly very widespread through Central and South America where they seemed to be more common in opener habitats. The main threat to these animals is hunting and habitat destruction. Within the upper Peruvian Amazon, they appear to favor areas with sandy soils. If one encounters one of these animals, it can generally be closely approached, provided you are quiet and remain downwind - not traits which protect them from hunters, unfortunately.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
A medium sized anteater, the southern tamandua is fairly common in areas where it is not persecuted. Active by both day and night, its presence can often be detected by a shower of debris from above as it rips into rotten wood or termite nests in search of its ant and termite prety. The tail is prehensile, and like other anteaters, it has powerful front legs and sharp claws. The captive individual here is enjoying a treat of termites extracted from a piece of termite nest by its long and very sticky tongue.
@ Project Amazonas, Inc., photo by Devon Graham
Nine-banded Armadillos occur throughout the Amazon, but are probably more frequently observed in places like Texas or Florida! They are nocturnal and terrestrial, and are frequently hunted for food by local people. This one has been smoked over a fire to preserve the meat for future use. Armadillos are unique among mammals in giving birth to identical quadruplets, and also in being susceptible to the leprosy virus - a combination of features that has made them indispensible in research to cure this disease.
The brown-throated sloth is the commonest sloth species encountered in at Project Amazonas field sites. This species is one of the three-toed sloths, and is active (though not conspicuous!) during the day. A favorite food source are the common and conspicuous Cecropia trees. In addition to being frequently spotted in Cecropia trees along rivers, these sloths are occasionally found crossing rivers where they prove to be capable though slow swimmers. In areas of the Neotropics where dams have been built, rising waters force sloths to swim to higher ground, and they have been found to be one of the most common larger mammals in these areas. Reflecting their abundance, sloths are also an important component of the diets of top Amazon predators including the jaguar and harpy eagle.
