Virginia Hayssen
Mammalian Species 2009 (839), 1-9, (27 July 2009) https://doi.org/10.1644/839.1
KEYWORDS: commensal, Edentata, edentate, folivory, sloth, South America, Xenarthra
Bradypus tridactylus Linnaeus, 1758, is commonly called the pale-throated sloth. Males have a middorsal speculum. B. tridactylus is endemic to rain forests of northeastern South America. Like other sloths, B. tridactylus is a high-canopy folivore. It has a commensal relationship with the algae and invertebrates that live in its abundant pelage. It is listed as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources because of its distribution in pristine areas of the Amazon Basin. It does not adapt to zoo settings.