Sloths are slow-moving mammals, known for their deliberate pace in the canopy of Central and South American rainforests. This unhurried lifestyle extends to many aspects of their biology, including a surprising and unique approach to their bowel movements. Their adaptations allow them to conserve energy efficiently, yet these habits lead to a remarkable and potentially dangerous ritual.
The Sloth’s Infrequent Ritual
Sloths typically defecate only once every five to seven days, an unusually infrequent schedule among mammals. When they do, the volume is substantial, with sloths losing a significant portion of their body weight in a single event. Some estimates suggest they can expel up to one-third of their body weight at once, equivalent to a 150-pound person losing 50 pounds in a single bowel movement.
The Biological Reasons
The extremely slow metabolic rate of sloths is a primary factor behind their infrequent defecation. Their diet consists mainly of leaves, which are low in nutritional value and difficult to digest. This necessitates a prolonged digestive process, which can take anywhere from a week to a full month for a single leaf to be fully processed. This extended digestion allows sloths to extract as many nutrients as possible from their fibrous meals.
The slow rate of digestion directly impacts waste accumulation. Fecal matter builds up gradually because food moves slowly through their system. Their highly efficient digestive system absorbs most available nutrients, leaving less waste to be expelled frequently. This energy-conserving strategy means sloths do not have an urgent need for daily or frequent defecation.
The Risky Descent
Despite spending most of their lives high in the trees, sloths descend to the forest floor to defecate, a behavior unique among arboreal animals. This descent, sometimes called the “poop dance,” involves a slow and arduous journey from the canopy to the ground. Once on the forest floor, three-toed sloths typically dig a small hole with their tails, while two-toed sloths use their pelvic area before relieving themselves.
This ground-based defecation exposes sloths to significant danger. They are particularly vulnerable to predators like jaguars, ocelots, and harpy eagles when not camouflaged in the trees. Their slow movement on the ground, due to limbs adapted for hanging rather than walking, makes them easy targets. Over half of all sloth deaths occur during this vulnerable period. Each trip to the ground for defecation can also expend a considerable amount of energy, around 8% of their daily needs.