Bibliography
- Bryson Voirin; Biology and conservation of the pygmy sloth, Bradypus pygmaeus, Journal of Mammalogy, Volume 96, Issue 4, 3 August 2015, Pages 703–707
- Dimitrova, Tanya. “Attempt to export nearly-Extinct pygmy sloths sets off international incident in Panama.” Mongabay Environmental News, Mongabay Environmental News, 18 Jan. 2017, news.mongabay.com/2013/09/attempt-to-export-nearly-extinct-pygmy-sloths-sets-off-international-incident-in-panama/. Accessed 26 Sept. 2017.
- Guarino, F. 2009. "Bradypus pygmaeus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 26, 2017 at http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Bradypus_pygmaeus/
- “Pygmy three-Toed sloth videos, photos and facts.” Arkive, Arkive, www.arkive.org/pygmy-three-toed-sloth/bradypus-pygmaeus/. Accessed 26 Sept. 2017.
- “EDGE :: Mammal Species Information.” EDGE of Existence, EDGE of Existence, www.edgeofexistence.org/mammals/species_info.php?id=1396#description. Accessed 26 Sept. 2017.
- Voirin, B., Smith, D., Chiarello, A. & Moraes-Barros, N. 2014. Bradypus pygmaeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T61925A47444229. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T61925A47444229.en. Downloaded on 26 September 2017.
Pygmy Three-Toed Sloth
Recommendation
Decision Making
- Law enforcement:
- People need to keep off the land
- Stop poaching practices
- Fines/other penalties
- Community:
- Awareness campaigns
- Fund raising
- Stop tourism industries (marina, eco-lodge, casino)
- In situ
- Cannot take out of habitat, die with stress
Preservation Plan
- Current Action:
- Island protected as wildlife refuge (but needs more enforcement)
- Comprehensive plan underway to bring together locals, wildlife authorities, scientific communities
- Fund raising campaign
- Further Options:
- Strengthen law enforcement
- Local awareness programs
- promoting sloths as conservation flagship species
- stopping poaching and deforestation
Issues
- Importance:
- Hosts to various parasites
- May influence vegetation
- Act as prey for larger, arboreal predators
- Algae live on the sloths' fur (gives camouflage)
- Other Factors:
- Low cost of preservation plan (better law enforcement)
- One of the most endangered in the world, add to biodiversity
- Help algae/vegetation population
- Threats:
- Fishermen, farmers, lobster divers and local people visit, and may hunt illegally
- Destruction of homes (mangrove trees)
- Tourism degrades habitats
- No government staff enforcing protection
- Pet trade, exotic species collectors, and zoos
- Current Status:
- Predicted less than 100 on island (numbers vary)
- Difficult to keep in captivity (do not survive or reproduce)
Introduction
- Pygmy Three-Toed Sloth (Bradypus Pygmaeus)
- Size: Total length: 485 - 530 mm, Tail length: 45 - 60 mm
- Physical Description:
- blotchy, pale grey-brown fur and a tan face
- Dark band across forehead
- long, shaggy hair
Lifestyle
Environment
- Diet: Most likely leaves of red mangrove trees
- Lifespan: Unknown, other species 30-40 yrs
- Reproduction:
- Find each other with loud calls
- Unknown gestation period, other three-toed sloth species are pregnant 4-7 months before birth
- One infant bared at a time, cared for 6 months - 1 yr (mother carries young sloth with her everywhere)
- Habitat: Exclusively in red mangrove forests surrounding the island Isla Escudo de Veraguas at near sea level
- Climate/Geographic Location: Isla Escudo de Veraguas, Panama, undocumented climate but generally warm weather, area of 4.3 km
- Adaptations:
- Long, curved claws help hang upside-down
- Long forearms and short thighs (cannot bring knees together)
- Neck can turn about 270 degrees horizontally, can see around without having to move rest of body
- hair grows in opposite direction than most animals, easier for water to run off away from skin when upside-down
Actual food web unknown
Different three-toed sloth species ->
* Discovered in 2001 resulting in lack of solid knowledge