Sloths may be in danger by the end of the century

One of the main concerns is the sharp increase in resting metabolic rate for sloths in higher altitudes when faced with warmer temperatures. This poses a challenge as they may not be able to find cooler habitats to adapt. Even low-altitude sloths, while potentially able to move to higher altitudes, display limitations in their metabolic adaptability, which could threaten their survival.

In addition to metabolic challenges, sloths also face issues with digestion, as their digestion rate is significantly slower than other herbivores. This means that they may struggle to meet their energy needs as temperatures and metabolic rates rise.

Despite the study’s rudimentary climate model, researchers predict that even a small increase in ambient temperature could push high-altitude sloths to a point where they cannot balance their energy consumption with their energy budget. The delicate balance between metabolism, digestion, and habitat temperatures makes sloths highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.