The three-toed sloths are tree-living mammals from South and Central America. They are the only members of the genus Bradypus and the family Bradypodidae. There are four living species of three-toed sloths. These are the Brown-throated Sloth, the Maned Sloth, the Pale-throated Sloth, and the Pygmy Three-toed Sloth.
Although similar to the somewhat larger and generally faster moving two-toed sloths, the two genera are not particularly closely related. Recent phylogenetic analyses support the morphological data from the 1970s and 1980s that the two genera are not closely related and that each adopted their arboreal lifestyles independently. It is unclear what ground-dwelling sloth taxa the three-toed sloths evolved from; the two-toed sloths appear to nest phylogenetically within one of the divisions of Caribbean megalonychids, and thus probably either descended from them or are part of a clade that invaded the Caribbean multiple times. Both types of sloth tend to occupy the same forests: in most areas, a particular single species of three-toed sloths and a single species of the larger two-toed type will jointly predominate. Famously slow-moving, the sloth travels at a top speed of 0.24 kilometres per hour (0.15 mph).
Although they are quite slow in trees, three-toed sloths are agile swimmers. The offspring cling to their mother's bellies for around 9 months or so. They cannot walk on all four limbs, and so they must use their front arms and claws to drag themselves across the rain forest floor. They do not have a mating season and breed year round.
The three-toed sloth is arboreal (tree-dwelling), with a body adapted to hang by its limbs. It lives high in the canopy but descends once a week to defecate on the forest floor. Its long, coarse, grayish-brown fur often appears greenish, not due to pigment but to algae growing on it. The sloth’s greenish color and its sluggish habits provide an effective camouflage: hanging quietly, the sloth resembles a bundle of leaves. Large curved claws help the sloth to keep a strong grip on tree branches.
Tags: Bosque del Cabo Costa Rica Spider Monkeys Lapa Congo Rainforest Red Eyed Green Tree Frog Marine Frog Tropical Garden Palms Toucan Osa Osa Pennsula Roadside Hawk Tropical Flowers Fer de Lanc venomous snakes Bush Master Howler Monkeys Toucans Biodiversity Rainforest of Costa Rica Osa Pennisula Panama Rainforest Trees Red Eyed Green Tree Frogs Nature Tourism Sustainable Tourism Angi English HDR HDR of Costa Rica Angi English Photography Iguana Tidepools Dolphin watching Sweetie Pacific Rim Pacific Rim Trail Jaguar Ocelot Jungle Cats Macro Photography Cat Eyed Snake Scarlet Macaws Birds of Costa Rica Palm Trees Suspension Bridge Waterfall Rappelling Spiders Flora Snakes of Costa Rica
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Most howler monkey species live in groups of 10 to 15 animals, with one to three adult males and multiple females. Mantled howlers monkeys (Alouatta palliata) are an exception, commonly living in groups of 15 to 20 individuals with more than three adult males. Unlike most New World monkeys, in which one sex remains in natal groups, juveniles of both sexes emigrate from their natal groups,[4] such that howler monkeys could spend the majority of their adult lives in association with non-kin.
Physical fighting among group members is infrequent and generally of short duration. However, serious injuries can result. Both males and females may fight with each other but physical aggression is even more rare between sexes.[4][5] Group size varies by species and by location, with an approximate male to female ratio of a male to four females.
Tags: Bosque del Cabo Costa Rica Spider Monkeys Lapa Congo Rainforest Red Eyed Green Tree Frog Marine Frog Tropical Garden Palms Toucan Osa Osa Pennsula Roadside Hawk Tropical Flowers Fer de Lanc venomous snakes Bush Master Howler Monkeys Toucans Biodiversity Rainforest of Costa Rica Osa Pennisula Panama Rainforest Trees Red Eyed Green Tree Frogs Nature Tourism Sustainable Tourism Angi English HDR HDR of Costa Rica Angi English Photography Iguana Tidepools Dolphin watching Sweetie Pacific Rim Pacific Rim Trail Jaguar Ocelot Jungle Cats Macro Photography Cat Eyed Snake Scarlet Macaws Birds of Costa Rica Palm Trees Suspension Bridge Waterfall Rappelling Spiders Flora Snakes of Costa Rica
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As their name suggests, vocal communication forms an important part of their social behavior. They have an enlarged basihyal or hyoid bone which helps them make their loud vocalizations. Group males generally call at dawn and dusk as well as interspersed times throughout the day. The main vocals consist of loud, deep guttural growls or "howls." Howler monkeys are widely considered to be the loudest land animal. According to Guinness Book of World Records, their vocalizations can be heard clearly for 20 miles (32 km). It is hypothesized that the function of howling relates to intergroup spacing and territory protection, as well as possibly mate-guarding.
These large and slow moving monkeys are the only folivores of the New World monkeys. Howlers eat mainly top canopy leaves, together with fruit, buds, flowers, and nuts. They need to be careful not to eat too much of certain species of mature leaf in one sitting, as some of the leaves they eat contain toxins that can poison the monkey.[6] Howler monkeys are also known to occasionally raid birds nests and chicken coops and consume the eggs.
Tags: Bosque del Cabo Costa Rica Spider Monkeys Lapa Congo Rainforest Red Eyed Green Tree Frog Marine Frog Tropical Garden Palms Toucan Osa Osa Pennsula Roadside Hawk Tropical Flowers Fer de Lanc venomous snakes Bush Master Howler Monkeys Toucans Biodiversity Rainforest of Costa Rica Osa Pennisula Panama Rainforest Trees Red Eyed Green Tree Frogs Nature Tourism Sustainable Tourism Angi English HDR HDR of Costa Rica Angi English Photography Iguana Tidepools Dolphin watching Sweetie Pacific Rim Pacific Rim Trail Jaguar Ocelot Jungle Cats Macro Photography Cat Eyed Snake Scarlet Macaws Birds of Costa Rica Palm Trees Suspension Bridge Waterfall Rappelling Spiders Flora Snakes of Costa Rica
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The dramatic dynamic range of this cabina with the bright outside and dark inside is a good example of how HDR photography can capture the full range of light and detail in a scene.
Tags: Bosque del Cabo Costa Rica Spider Monkeys Lapa Congo Rainforest Red Eyed Green Tree Frog Marine Frog Tropical Garden Palms Toucan Osa Osa Pennsula Roadside Hawk Tropical Flowers Fer de Lanc venomous snakes Bush Master Howler Monkeys Toucans Biodiversity Rainforest of Costa Rica Osa Pennisula Panama Rainforest Trees Red Eyed Green Tree Frogs Nature Tourism Sustainable Tourism Angi English HDR HDR of Costa Rica Angi English Photography Iguana Tidepools Dolphin watching Sweetie Pacific Rim Pacific Rim Trail Jaguar Ocelot Jungle Cats Macro Photography Cat Eyed Snake Scarlet Macaws Birds of Costa Rica Palm Trees Suspension Bridge Waterfall Rappelling Spiders Flora Snakes of Costa Rica
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Another good example of capturing the full dynamic range of light in these beautiful cabina overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Tags: Bosque del Cabo Costa Rica Spider Monkeys Lapa Congo Rainforest Red Eyed Green Tree Frog Marine Frog Tropical Garden Palms Toucan Osa Osa Pennsula Roadside Hawk Tropical Flowers Fer de Lanc venomous snakes Bush Master Howler Monkeys Toucans Biodiversity Rainforest of Costa Rica Osa Pennisula Panama Rainforest Trees Red Eyed Green Tree Frogs Nature Tourism Sustainable Tourism Angi English HDR HDR of Costa Rica Angi English Photography Iguana Tidepools Dolphin watching Sweetie Pacific Rim Pacific Rim Trail Jaguar Ocelot Jungle Cats Macro Photography Cat Eyed Snake Scarlet Macaws Birds of Costa Rica Palm Trees Suspension Bridge Waterfall Rappelling Spiders Flora Snakes of Costa Rica
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