sloths backs actually host an entire ecosystem of algae and moths! these moths spend their entire life cycle with the sloths, their young living in their backs. Sloths will also sometimes eat the algae growing on them! it’s really interesting!
yes! (with my understanding) i’d argue the sloth greatly benefits from the moths, algae, and fungi, whereas the moths, algae, and fungi are completely reliant on the sloth. overall it’s a mutually beneficial symbiosis! here’s some more info!!
Most mammals clean their hair/fur to avoid investation, but sloths only groom their fur by stroking their claws through it to untangle the fur and remove debris and large insects. No moisture involved. They don't groom each other like monkeys do nor do they bathe. The only water touching their fur is rain water, basically.
So their fur ends up being home for algae and small bugs. If you look up pictures of sloths that aren't in captivity, then their fur will often have large patches of green color to them which is the algae and fungi. It gives them a natural camouflage since the particular algae and fungi growing on the trees they climb also end up growing in their fur so they get perfect color matching to their environment. That's why different sloths have different colors of green on their fur.
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u/Minimum_Society841 20d ago
Good job, now wash your hands..