Sloth mother and baby in Costa Rican tree

A mother sloth clings to a tree branch in Costa Rica, with her young offspring nestled close. These arboreal mammals are native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Their slow metabolism and specialized diet of leaves contribute to their unhurried lifestyle, making them a unique part of the region's biodiversity. Sloths play a role in their ecosystem by consuming foliage and serving as a habitat for algae and insects on their fur.