Three-toed sloth in Costa Rica Oct 20, 2024

The world"s slowest mammal takes the spotlight in today"s image. There are six living sloth species, divided into two types: three-toed sloths and two-toed sloths. The three-toed sloth, a laid-back, tree-loving mammal that"s right at home in the tropical regions of South and Central America. They have short tails and three clawed toes on each limb, which help them cling onto branches with ease. Sloths are mainly leaf eaters, although they also snack on fruits, and tree sap to keep them going. To help them break down those tough, fibrous leaves, they have a special multi-chambered stomach. With their super slow metabolism, digestion takes its sweet time, and they don"t need much food each day to get by. It"s not just their stomachs that move at a leisurely pace; they"re so slow-moving that algae often develop on their fur, giving a greenish tint, which handily also provides them camouflage.

© Harry Collins/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Oct 20, 2023Pygmy three-toed sloth
Oct 20, 2025Hoffmanns two-toed sloth

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Aug 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
Jul 10, 2024Collared aracari
Oct 14, 2023Ring of fire solar eclipse
May 29, 2025Miravet, Catalonia, Spain
Jan 8, 2025Great Wall of China
Nov 26, 2023Fallow deer in Bradgate Park, England
May 21, 2025Tea garden at Yangjiatang Village, Songyang County, China
Dec 30, 2023Daiichi Tadami River Bridge, Fukushima, Japan
Jan 30, 2025Rolands Breach, Spain
Oct 31, 2023Pumpkins and squashes
Oct 26, 2025Pumpkin farm, North Carolina
Apr 25, 2025Magellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands
Dec 28, 2023Humpback whale
Feb 12, 2025Marine iguanas, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Nov 8, 2024Glacial rivers, Iceland
Apr 22, 2024Green sea turtle
Feb 2, 2026Alpine marmots, Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria
Mar 10, 2026Bláhver, Hveravellir, Iceland
Apr 30, 2025Iguazu Falls seen from Paraná, Brazil
Jun 1, 2025Barrier reef off Grande Terre, New Caledonia, France
Apr 8, 2025Piazza Maggiore, Bologna, Italy
Dec 11, 2025The summit of Mount Everest at sunset, seen from Renjo La, Nepal
Jan 4, 2025Bản Giốc – Detian Falls, Vietnam
Dec 26, 2023Dedham, Colchester, England
May 15, 2024The Blue City of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Dec 13, 2025Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Jan 29, 2026Milwaukee City Hall, Wisconsin, United States
Apr 7, 2024North American beaver, Denali National Park, Alaska, USA
Feb 28, 2024Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
Aug 22, 2025Rolling hills of the Palouse, Washington, United States