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Sep 30, 2022

Newly recognised species of sloth has a head like a coconut

Posted by in category: genetics

The world has one more sloth species in it than previously thought. Maned sloths live in a small belt of forest in Brazil and an analysis now suggests those in the south are a different species from those found farther north.

Three-toed sloths were conventionally thought to be divided into four species. One — the maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus) — sports a thatch of coarse, brown hair, making the head resemble a husked coconut.


Maned sloths were thought to be one species but a genetic and physical analysis suggests there are actually two.

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