Long before today’s tree-dwelling sloths, a 4-ton giant roamed South America — and it may have stood and fought like a bear.

Credit: flickr You wouldn’t expect it from an animal that barely moves, but sloths are excellent swimmers. They use a sort of doggy paddle and can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes. Water ...

Defecating exposes sloths to predators on the jungle floor. An unexpected ally benefits, and returns the favor. A brown-throated three-toed sloth peers over a tree's buttress root while defecating on ...

Sloths always seem to have a relaxed smile on their lips, making them appear friendly and cute. The natural habitat of these leisurely tree dwellers is the tropical rainforests of Central and South ...