Brown-throated three-toed sloth 30 Mar 2024

Costa Rica"s lush forests are habitats for two sloth species: Hoffmann"s two-toed sloth and the star of today"s homepage, the brown-throated three-toed sloth. Despite being larger than many tree-dwelling mammals, three-toed sloths have adapted by reducing their muscle mass and size to thrive on treetops. Their large stomachs have four chambers, which can make up to 30% of their body weight when full. These shaggy critters are so sedentary that algae grow on their coats. This symbiotic relationship provides them with a greenish hue, offering effective camouflage within the rainforest canopy. In 2021, these slow-moving creatures were declared national symbols in Costa Rica. Then-President Carlos Alvarado signed the initiative into law to emphasise the sloths" importance in the country"s ecosystem.

© Juan Carlos Vindas/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Nature’s blue wonder
30 Mar 2025Mothering Sunday

More Desktop Wallpapers:

21 Mar 2024International Day of Forests
2 Apr 2025Sandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, Utah, United States
26 Feb 2026Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, Arizona, United States
29 Mar 2025Superbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, United States
7 Apr 2024International Beaver Day
What returned to this city 500 years ago?
22 Sep 2025Autumn equinox
11 Mar 2024Koala
12 Jan 2025Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
31 Dec 2023Happy New Years Eve!
1 Dec 2023Antarctica Day
28 Sep 2025Town of Pienza in Tuscany, Italy
20 Aug 2024Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA
16 Dec 2025Handmade gnomes at a Christmas market
9 May 2024Tulips at Emirgan Park in Istanbul, Türkiye
Beautiful Borovets
What’s your favorite colour?
24 Jan 2026Big Garden Birdwatch
10 Jul 2024Collared aracari
25 Oct 2024Frankenstein Friday
23 Dec 2024Celebrating Festivus
Panoramic Penzance
Theres no denying the power of Denali
29 Jan 2026Milwaukee City Hall, Wisconsin, United States
Time to make an impression
An old bridge in a new light
12 Jun 2025Big Bend National Park, Texas, United States
30 May 2025Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States
28 Oct 2024Pumpkin field, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
5 May 2025Brighton Festival