A three-toed sloth entered one of our classrooms today; they are the ultimate in sustainability. They are vegetarian, eating trumpet tree, almond and mangrove leaves. About 6 leaves is a meal for the day, and it may take 2 to 4 weeks to digest.
About 1/3rd of their body weight is stomach, and when they need to go for a poop, which is about once a week, they risk coming down from the tree to poop at the base of the tree. This behaviour keeps the tree clean, stops infection and fertilises the tree.
They can rotate their heads up to 300 deg to look for a branch or check for food or predators. They live for up to 30 years, which is surprising because they keep falling out of the trees. Their rib cage is modified with extra ribs and flexibility; their internal organs are also connected to the rib cage. This adaptation allows them to survive a fall of up to 30 metres.
If they fall out of a mangrove tree and land in the sea, then no problem for this superhero. They can swim faster than they can walk and hold their breath for up to 45 minutes by slowing down their metabolism.
We have a great deal to learn from this wonderful animal.