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One aspect rarely featured in viral videos (including ours) of these endearing creatures is their defecation process. This is likely because sloths typically relieve themselves just once a week—or even once a month—and the sight can be somewhat unsettling. It resembles witnessing an animal slowly delivering what can only be described as a hefty, dark fecal mass.
During a recent trip to the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, The Washington Post delved into the mechanics of sloth excretion, showcasing their journalistic rigor, and even captured rare footage of a baby sloth in the act.
The charming 5-month-old Valentino, a Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth, follows a weekly routine for urination and defecation. An aviary staff member likened the event to a sudden release, with everything expelled in one solid, snake-like form.
A single bowel movement from a healthy sloth can weigh up to a third of its total body weight, visibly reducing the size of its stomach. Once Valentino finishes, observers are left with a somewhat startling view of his expansive anal opening.
In their natural habitat, three-toed sloths descend from the treetops solely to defecate, performing a unique “poo dance” to create a small latrine. This behavior is perilous due to their notoriously slow movement. Shockingly, around half of sloth deaths occur on the ground, often involving those urgently needing to relieve themselves.
The reason behind some sloths' elaborate defecation ritual remains a scientific enigma, as they could easily release their massive waste from the safety of the canopy. (Two-toed sloths, like Valentino, often do just that, avoiding the risky journey to the forest floor.) One theory suggests this behavior is tied to a symbiotic relationship involving sloths, moths, and algae, though it’s not widely agreed upon. Another possibility is that it plays a role in sloth courtship, using pheromones to communicate with potential mates. Regardless, the process is remarkably intricate.
Header image by RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/GettyImages
