Comments on: Four fun facts about sloths http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 13:42:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: sky http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693770 sky Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693770 My favourite sloth fact (from Perth Museum's display): sloths can swim breaststroke and backstroke, depending on which way they fall into the water. Depending on which way they fall into the water! The same display also informs me that sloths (or perhaps the particular kind of sloth on display) are useless on a flat surface, and can only pull themselves along with their toes. My favourite sloth fact (from Perth Museum’s display): sloths can swim breaststroke and backstroke, depending on which way they fall into the water.

Depending on which way they fall into the water!

The same display also informs me that sloths (or perhaps the particular kind of sloth on display) are useless on a flat surface, and can only pull themselves along with their toes.

]]> By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-694031 noah django Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-694031 I was going to mention that they hire dogs to burn down hospitals, but I see you've already cited my source. So odd that I looked up this sketch again only a few days ago. Hivemind. "America: 1776-2007 SUCK IT!" I was going to mention that they hire dogs to burn down hospitals, but I see you’ve already cited my source.

So odd that I looked up this sketch again only a few days ago. Hivemind.

“America:

1776-2007

SUCK IT!”

]]> By: Dave Bullock (eecue) http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693272 Dave Bullock (eecue) Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693272 Love the SNL skit, so awesome. Was just about to post it. Love the SNL skit, so awesome. Was just about to post it.

]]> By: phlavor http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693280 phlavor Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693280 My canoe tour guide in Costa Rica seemed pretty certain that they bury their poo to prevent getting smelled out and eaten by jaguars. My canoe tour guide in Costa Rica seemed pretty certain that they bury their poo to prevent getting smelled out and eaten by jaguars.

]]> By: nehpetsE http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-694820 nehpetsE Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-694820 Tom Hale,I promise you, i quick image search will reveal pics many animals(in addition to sloths and missionaries) having sex "missionary style" Tom Hale,I promise you, i quick image search will reveal pics many animals(in addition to sloths and missionaries) having sex “missionary style”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-769573 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-769573 YES!! Love the SNL skit - I hadn't seen that. So great, thank you. YES!! Love the SNL skit – I hadn’t seen that. So great, thank you.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693801 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693801 Sloths are the most awesome animals on the planet! Sloths are the most awesome animals on the planet!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-697897 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697897 Sloths have an interesting cousin too: armadillos. Those who want to know more can check out my book at http://dillos.us Sloths have an interesting cousin too: armadillos. Those who want to know more can check out my book at http://dillos.us

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-769578 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-769578 hee... now that I've been reading up & watching tons of videos on sloths for the last 20 minutes (!)... here's a funny alpha roméo commercial with the main character being a cute sloth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA_OEmf1mdo hee… now that I’ve been reading up & watching tons of videos on sloths for the last 20 minutes (!)… here’s a funny alpha roméo commercial with the main character being a cute sloth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA_OEmf1mdo

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-909355 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-909355 SLOTHS ARE AWESOME!!! Ice Age explains Sid the sloth as an average speed animals. SLOTHS ARE AWESOME!!! Ice Age explains Sid the sloth as an average speed animals.

]]> By: Muloka http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693299 Muloka Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693299 Photosynthetic Sloths of Amazonia http://deoxy.org/gaia/3tsloth.htm Photosynthetic Sloths of Amazonia
http://deoxy.org/gaia/3tsloth.htm

]]> By: Kaz http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693302 Kaz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693302 is it just mean, or do sloths freak anyone else out? I mean, the slowness.. the long arms and long claws... I know they're just waiting for their chance to spring at me and rip my throat out... is it just mean, or do sloths freak anyone else out? I mean, the slowness.. the long arms and long claws… I know they’re just waiting for their chance to spring at me and rip my throat out…

]]> By: nehpetsE http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-694838 nehpetsE Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-694838 In evolutionary terms, it makes sense that a remarkably slow metabolism would be an alternate solution to storing fat. I also wonder how if the low body temperature could be a factor in how it metabolizes dietary fat. ie Human core temperature is above the melting point of butter, but do humans assimilate fats which have a melting point of 110 degrees Fahrenheit? In evolutionary terms, it makes sense that a remarkably slow metabolism would be an alternate solution to storing fat.
I also wonder how if the low body temperature could be a factor in how it metabolizes dietary fat.

ie Human core temperature is above the melting point of butter, but do humans assimilate fats which have a melting point of 110 degrees Fahrenheit?

]]> By: nehpetsE http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-694839 nehpetsE Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-694839 And Has NASA ever experimented on sloths? I NEED to know how an animal with its entire circulatory system designed to function upside down reacts physically to prolonged living at zero Gs. And
Has NASA ever experimented on sloths?

I NEED to know how an animal with its entire circulatory system designed to function upside down reacts physically to prolonged living at zero Gs.

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693307 SamSam Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693307 I know, and such a boring deadly sin too. Stay away from Wraths and Lusts, though -- those creatures can <i>really</i> do some damage to you... I know, and such a boring deadly sin too. Stay away from Wraths and Lusts, though — those creatures can really do some damage to you…

]]> By: EricIndiana http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-711229 EricIndiana Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-711229 How do you know so much about sloths? They seem like wonderful creatures. It sounds like the one who bit the researcher did it was a warning - actually reaching out, grabbing his arm & biting him seems like the way a human would do it. How do you know so much about sloths? They seem like wonderful creatures. It sounds like the one who bit the researcher did it was a warning – actually reaching out, grabbing his arm & biting him seems like the way a human would do it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-695102 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-695102 LOL. Such a nice comment. LOL. Such a nice comment.

]]> By: Terry Karney http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-696387 Terry Karney Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-696387 nephetsE: Beef fat (tallow) has a melting point of 104-114F Leaf Lard has a melting point of 109-118F Suet (the hard fat around the kidneys: usually of cattle) has a melting point of 113-122F Sheep fat melts at 113-130F. Suet congeals at 99-104F. The harder fats are harer to digest, because the breakdown requires digestive acids to do the work, but they are digestible (though it helps to have them in conjunction with other food which slow the process and do keep them in the got for a longer period of time. nephetsE: Beef fat (tallow) has a melting point of 104-114F

Leaf Lard has a melting point of 109-118F

Suet (the hard fat around the kidneys: usually of cattle) has a melting point of 113-122F

Sheep fat melts at 113-130F.

Suet congeals at 99-104F.

The harder fats are harer to digest, because the breakdown requires digestive acids to do the work, but they are digestible (though it helps to have them in conjunction with other food which slow the process and do keep them in the got for a longer period of time.

]]> By: nehpetsE http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-707140 nehpetsE Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-707140 Your response is exactly why i love Boingboing Your response is exactly why i love Boingboing

]]> By: ill lich http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693073 ill lich Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693073 I always thought the slowness was due in part to their diet, which either didn't give them enough energy, or in some cases had natural toxins that slowed down their metabolism. I always thought the slowness was due in part to their diet, which either didn’t give them enough energy, or in some cases had natural toxins that slowed down their metabolism.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693079 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693079 "tiny hard drive—epoxied to each sloth's head like a hat" “tiny hard drive—epoxied to each sloth’s head like a hat”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-718679 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-718679 I remember seeing sloths way up the Amazon River......and actually 'petting' one in Manaus (in captivity). They are amazing creatures and have fascinated me ever since. I remember seeing sloths way up the Amazon River……and actually ‘petting’ one in Manaus (in captivity). They are amazing creatures and have fascinated me ever since.

]]> By: Nylund http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-695640 Nylund Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-695640 The sloth in Dallas that they mention is completely out in the open, not in a cage or anything. One could touch it quite easily (I don't know the official policy on touching though) Those claws were enough for me to keep my hands away from it though! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEjeGyIjHug I highly recommend going to the Dallas World Aquarium if you're ever in Dallas. Now I want to stake out the parking lot. The sloth in Dallas that they mention is completely out in the open, not in a cage or anything. One could touch it quite easily (I don’t know the official policy on touching though) Those claws were enough for me to keep my hands away from it though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEjeGyIjHug

I highly recommend going to the Dallas World Aquarium if you’re ever in Dallas. Now I want to stake out the parking lot.

]]> By: Ghede http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693082 Ghede Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693082 Hmm. I remember reading about a species of sloth with genitalia in pairs. Like an electrical socket. I can't find mention of it again. Was it BS, or am I just not finding that specific species of sloth on wikipedia? Hmm. I remember reading about a species of sloth with genitalia in pairs. Like an electrical socket. I can’t find mention of it again. Was it BS, or am I just not finding that specific species of sloth on wikipedia?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693341 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693341 Oh, Sloths and their fur-algae. That got me marked down on a paper in 3rd grade. We had to pick a rain forest animal to research and write about. I picked sloths. I did a fuck ton of research, at least for a 10 year old. I wrote about the algae on their fur that protected them from predators because that was SO COOL. My idiot teacher thought I made it up, and marked me down for it. The next months National Geographic? Yeah, it had a story about THAT EXACT FACT. Which I then brought in and threw on her desk. I totally served her. She never did mark me back up for that. Bitch. Oh, Sloths and their fur-algae. That got me marked down on a paper in 3rd grade. We had to pick a rain forest animal to research and write about. I picked sloths. I did a fuck ton of research, at least for a 10 year old. I wrote about the algae on their fur that protected them from predators because that was SO COOL.

My idiot teacher thought I made it up, and marked me down for it.

The next months National Geographic? Yeah, it had a story about THAT EXACT FACT. Which I then brought in and threw on her desk. I totally served her.

She never did mark me back up for that. Bitch.

]]> By: Moriarty http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693095 Moriarty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693095 They use bathrooms?!? They use bathrooms?!?

]]> By: Felton http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693620 Felton Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693620 Heheh! Not to mention pride, which <i>must</i> be a lion. Heheh! Not to mention pride, which must be a lion.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693112 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693112 water rises 50' in rainy season....sloths swim underwater ,eating for long periods. nobody looked in that season, only after scuba and video has it been seen. and they're fast! water rises 50′ in rainy season….sloths swim underwater ,eating for long periods.
nobody looked in that season, only after scuba and video has it been seen.
and they’re fast!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-782969 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-782969 This is a poem I just learned(I'm in 5th grade). The Sloth by Bobbi Katz A living cradle in my tree, It's usually snoozle time for me. A bag of fur with hooks for toes, That's the way a sloth's life goes. I nibble on a leaf or two, It's such slow work to chew and chew. My eyes spy a slice of sky, The wind sings me a lullaby. Softly my eyes close and then, I drift off to sleep again. Let the monkeys leap and run, My lifestyle's not for everyone. I'm not as lazy as I seem, I have so many dreams to dream, So very many dreams to dream. This is a poem I just learned(I’m in 5th grade).
The Sloth by Bobbi Katz
A living cradle in my tree,
It’s usually snoozle time for me.
A bag of fur with hooks for toes,
That’s the way a sloth’s life goes.
I nibble on a leaf or two,
It’s such slow work to chew and chew.
My eyes spy a slice of sky,
The wind sings me a lullaby.
Softly my eyes close and then,
I drift off to sleep again.
Let the monkeys leap and run,
My lifestyle’s not for everyone.
I’m not as lazy as I seem,
I have so many dreams to dream,
So very many dreams to dream.

]]> By: mister-o http://boingboing.net/2010/01/21/four-fun-facts-about.html#comment-693116 mister-o Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-693116 no, only 'the' bathroom no, only ‘the’ bathroom

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