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:

Nov 20, 2024Pont de pierre, Bordeaux, France
Apr 10, 2025Red fox cubs near their den
Apr 22, 2025Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
May 2, 2025Striated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, Brazil
Aug 29, 2023American bison
Nov 24, 2023Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
Dec 25, 2025Reindeer, Lapland, Finland
Oct 26, 2025Pumpkin farm, North Carolina
Jun 9, 2024Bardenas Reales Biosphere Reserve and Natural Park, Navarra, Spain
Dec 22, 2024Crystal Pier, San Diego, California, United States
Sep 4, 2025Grizzly bears
Jun 13, 2024Registan Square, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Feb 26, 2024Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA
Jan 25, 2026Burns National Heritage Park, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland
Feb 11, 2025Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China
Jan 30, 2024Ayna, Albacete, Spain
Aug 24, 2023Shark Fin Cove, California, USA
Jan 9, 2024Rio Grande, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Mar 10, 2026Bláhver, Hveravellir, Iceland
Jul 1, 2025Fishing village of Tilting, Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Mar 19, 2026Short-beaked echidna, Adelaide Hills, Australia
Aug 19, 2024Bufadero de la Garita, Gran Canaria, Spain
Apr 16, 2025Kachina Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, United States
May 16, 2025Great green macaw, Mexico
Aug 25, 2023Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Jan 14, 2026Fortress of Palamidi, Nafplio, Greece
May 11, 2024Indigo bunting
Dec 10, 2023Llyn Padarn lake, Snowdonia, Wales
Jul 2, 2025Spine-cheeked anemonefish
Dec 11, 2023Huangshan Mountains, China