Three-toed sloths than lazy? It didn't bother you than ... ...-sloths, three-toed sloths, wild animals-IT information
Recently, in the hit Disney animated film the wild animals in the city, the three-toed sloth "lightning" slow made audiences laugh, talk to it, work is always much slower than other animals, this writer did not deliberately delaying the story, please? Of course not, in reality, the three-toed sloth is so slow, don't care around the animal's speed. Then, as the world's slowest mammal, three-toed sloth is how to survive in the dangerous nature of it? It is disadvantages are lazy?
How lazy three-toed sloth?
Adults that live in areas in the South American rainforest three toed sloth, about 70 cm in length and weighs 4~7 kg, has a short and high skulls, small ears, short nose and gradually reduced tail, resembling humans. But it will not walk on the ground, can only rely on longer forelimbs drag body and move forward slowly, its top speed up to 6 cm per second; and when the rainy season comes, flooded on the ground, the three-toed sloth can make relatively good at swimming skills and holding your breath speed of magic – 18 cm per second, breath for 40 minutes in the water. However, as long as it is targeted by carnivorous animal of any kind, no possibility of escape.
However, nature's most mysterious places is that it is fair. It gave three-toed sloths, turtles are embarrassed by the slow, it will give the three-toed sloth some advantages, or three-toed sloth not prehistory survived until now. You know, three-toed sloth in the prehistoric ancestors and it's rapid growth, weight, tons of giant species too! Just sharp claws up to 30 cm long, almost half of a younger generation of long. And now, without the bulk of AWE, how do they avoid predators?
? Three-toed sloth ancestors--American ground sloths (Megatherium americanum)
Three-toed sloth with a long and thick brown hair, similar to that of the bark color has a strong hidden. Meanwhile, they feed on leaves, shoots and fruits, stay on the tree for a long time, try to avoid the capture of carnivorous animals on the other, because of the three-toed sloths, lack of exercise, so their meat is not good. Unless the enemy was very hungry, or they will not spend to hunt the inedible creatures!
Sometimes have to wonder, three-toed sloths are slow, perhaps it is not discovered by predators. But a pair of sharp eyes and an appropriate time to kill enough to make the three-toed sloth. According to the survey, more than half of the three-toed sloths are down during defecation are eaten by predators. Then, three-toed sloth: why must adhere to under the tree line?
? Ash brown hair covered with algae
Tree bit lazy bowel
Down defecate once a week, and covered with leaves, and then leave, three-toed sloth is lazy to an extreme Virgo. Although the presence of feces he revealed his whereabouts, but to the ground for this activity are more likely to lose their lives. And for having bothered to use saliva to chew the leaves decompose, too lazy to move in the tree rather than starving a month for three-toed sloth, this is an impossible task.
In order to adapt to the lifestyle, they gradually evolve, stomach weight body mass one-third, defecation makes weight loss 30%. Reason why they do not like the kin two-toed sloths (named after the forelimbs had only two clawed) directly in the tree? You know, branch climb, lithe body is a must.
? Ash brown hair covered with algae
After a long study, scientists finally discovered the mystery. Originally, it was a benefit the Quartet move. As the only body in the world plants animals, three-toed sloths live in the hair algae, fungi and moths and other creatures. Three-toed sloth down the tree line would provide a good place for moths to lay eggs and hatched moth larvae feed on feces, wait until adulthood and then fly back to the three-toed sloths live in the hair. After the death of the moth were fungus decomposes into carbon dioxide, water and mineral salts, promoting the growth of algae. Tropical rainforest climate wet, leafy trees withstood the Sun almost all the sunlight also provides a suitable environment for the growth of algae. These species account for about three-toed sloth 2% body weight, is that they are an important source of food.
Together they formed a miniature biosphere, three-toed sloth anytime, anywhere with energy. However, the magic of three-toed sloths is not limited to this.
Turns like the OWL
As we all know, owl's neck is very flexible, head to the maximum range up to 270 degrees of rotation, thanks to their part of the jaw of vascular expansion, to introduce more in a short time the blood to maintain brain and eyes turned instantly interrupted blood supply. Meanwhile, in the case kept twisting of the body, owl's head will still be able to keep still, bionics were applied to the tank gun muzzle bi-directional gyro servo stabilizer with the target device. Owl's head's rotation is leader in the birds. As the three-toed sloth of mammals, its head rotating in similar animals in none.
? OWL
In order to facilitate to move through dense rain forests, three-toed sloth climb often hang upside down like a bat, they played here extremely slow speed advantage-you can keep the fluid in the middle ear is almost stationary condition, to prevent dizziness. At this time, the three-toed sloth head 180 degrees to see the surrounding environment. Remember the book of laugh-Wai anigo has a review of the slut, about a woman's neck hangs a pie, but too lazy to turn and eat only the chest, was eventually starved to death jokes. It seems that Lady is really to learn three-toed sloth.
If the three-toed sloth can achieve an ideal State by turning the head, so when the body hung upside down how to self protection? Temporary storage of waste in the body are oppressed because of the effect of gravity to various organs?
Cannot be eliminated by nature
Turns out, we humans think too much. Costa Rica's sloth sanctuary, scientists dissected died of natural causes three-toed sloths, and found that it has a unique structure of adhesion of fibrin in vivo. These visceral connection three-toed sloths and the lower ribs, although it will have an impact on biological body flexibility, but three-toed sloth slow motion mode and no flexibility whatsoever. It can fully guarantee the individual organ upside down hanging from the ribs, do not change the position. Otherwise, the three-toed sloth of the oppression of the lungs may be affected by waste in the intestines, and lungs can't breathe and adjust the position took over 10% energy.
▲ The liver and above the sloth attached adhesive materials
But this is not a three-toed sloth the most magical place. For most mammals, all strictly in accordance with the laws of growth and evolution-has the same structure of the cervical spine, even as short as almost no neck, elephant, and a long neck to break through the roof of a giraffe has seven cervical vertebrae, and from the beginning of the eighth section into ribs. But three-toed sloth is unique and has a different bone structure.
? Seven cervical structure
Their eighth to tenth cervical vertebrae is significantly "lazy" evolutionary development and moved a mile down the entire trunk, forming a unique branch of biology-the Xenarthra. This class was originally just a unique species in South America, North and South American continents after the connection went to North America. Today, pangolins, Anteaters and armadillos are belong to this.
Cervical spine, has been the smallest and most flexible and highest frequency joint, and support brain, relying on all kinds of nerve, is a necessary and important part. For humans, the dislocation of the cervical spine can cause headaches, dizziness, facial features dysfunction, neurological conditions such as pain, and development of congenital dislocation of the cervical spine if mutations, can lead to cancer, Thoracic outlet syndrome, and other associated diseases. Laws for three-toed sloth seem to do nothing, they are inactive, unable to press on the nerves of the cervical spine and because of its slow metabolic rate to slow cancer cell growth, that it cannot complete the cancer in their lifetime.
However, it is regrettable that, there is a more terrible than the nature of the material in threatening the lives of three-toed sloth. Because mankind's wanton deforestation and industrial pollution, suitable for three-toed sloth live rainforest area is drastically reduced. American rainforest crisis, lush trees is the only shelter three-toed sloth, let them not be bothered with dreams, and lived to the end, not good?
跟三趾树懒比懒？它懒得和你比…… - 树懒,三趾树懒,疯狂动物城 - IT资讯
近期，在热映的迪士尼动画电影《疯狂动物城》中，三趾树懒“闪电”的慢性子让观众忍俊不禁，它说话、做事永远都比其他动物慢三拍，这不是编剧在蓄意拖延剧情吗？当然不是，现实中的三趾树懒就是这么慢悠悠的，完全不在乎周围动物的速度。那么，作为世界上行动最慢的哺乳动物，三趾树懒是如何在危机四伏的大自然中生存的呢？它的懒究竟是利是弊？
三趾树懒有多懒？
生活在美洲中南部热带雨林里的成年三趾树懒，身长约70厘米，体重为4~7公斤，有着短而高的头骨，小耳朵，短鼻子和逐渐退化的尾巴，外形酷似人类。但它却并不会在地面上行走，只能依靠较长的前肢拖动身体而缓慢前行，其最快速度达到每秒6厘米；而当雨季来临，地面涨水，三趾树懒就能发挥自己相对较擅长的游泳技能和憋气神功——以每秒18厘米的速度，闭气40分钟在水中前进。尽管如此，它只要被任何一种食肉性动物盯上，就绝无逃生的可能。
然而，大自然最神秘的地方就在于它是公平的。它给了三趾树懒令乌龟都汗颜的慢速，就一定会给三趾树懒某些优势，不然三趾树懒也不会从史前存活到现在。要知道，三趾树懒在史前的祖先可是生长迅速、体重成吨的巨型物种呢！仅仅是锋利的爪子就长达30厘米，几乎是后辈身长的一半。而如今，没有了庞大身躯的震慑，它们又是如何避开敌害的呢？
▲三趾树懒的祖先——美洲大地懒(Megatherium americanum)
三趾树懒长着长且粗的灰褐色毛发，这种与树皮相近的颜色拥有极强的隐蔽性。同时，它们以树叶、嫩芽和果实为食，长期呆在树上，尽量避开了食肉性动物的捕捉；另一方面，由于三趾树懒缺乏运动，所以它们的肉质并不美味。除非敌害饿极了，否则它们绝对不会耗费精力去捕食这种难以下咽的生物！
有时候不得不怀疑，三趾树懒之所以行动缓慢，也许就是不想被敌害发现。但一双锐利的眼睛和一个恰当的时机，足以让三趾树懒丧命。据调查显示，一半以上的三趾树懒都是在下树排便时被敌害吃掉的。那么，三趾树懒为什么一定要坚持在树下排便呢？
▲灰褐色的毛发上长满藻类
再懒也要下树排便
每周下树排便一次，并且会用树叶盖好后再离开，懒到极致的三趾树懒可以算是处女星座的。虽然粪便的存在会暴露自己的行踪，但为此而到地面活动更可能丢掉性命。并且对于吃树叶懒得咀嚼而全靠唾液分解，在树上懒得移动位置而宁愿一个月忍饥挨饿的三趾树懒来说，这简直是一件不可能完成的任务。
为了适应这种生活习惯，它们渐渐进化，胃的重量达到体重的三分之一，排便后会令体重减轻30%。为什么它们不能像近亲二趾树懒(因前肢只有两爪而得名)那样在树上直接排便呢？要知道，在树枝间攀爬，轻盈的身体是必要条件。
▲灰褐色的毛发上长满藻类
经过了漫长的研究，科学家们终于发现了其中的奥秘。原来，这是一项惠及四方的举动。作为世界上唯一一种身上长植物的动物，在三趾树懒的毛发中生活着藻类、真菌、飞蛾等多种生物。三趾树懒下树排便为飞蛾产卵提供了良好的场所，同时，孵化出来的飞蛾幼虫以粪便为食，等到成年后再飞回三趾树懒的毛发里生活。死亡后的飞蛾被真菌分解为二氧化碳、水和无机盐，促进藻类的生长。热带雨林气候潮湿，枝繁叶茂的树木几乎抵挡住了此处太阳发出的全部阳光，也为藻类的生长提供了适宜的环境。这些藻类约占三趾树懒体重的2%，是它们重要的食物来源之一。
它们共同组成了一个迷你的生物圈，让三趾树懒能够随时随地补充能量。不过，三趾树懒的神奇之处不仅仅局限于此。
转头堪比猫头鹰
众所周知，猫头鹰的脖子非常灵活，头部能够转动的最大幅度达270度，这得益于它们颌骨部位血管的扩张性，能够在短时间内引入更多的血液以维持脑部和眼睛因转头而瞬间中断的血液供给。与此同时，在身体不停扭动的情况下，猫头鹰的头部仍然能够保持静止，仿生学家们将其应用到了坦克炮的炮口与目标的随动稳定器双向陀螺仪装置上。猫头鹰头部的旋转能力无疑是鸟类中的佼佼者。作为哺乳动物的三趾树懒，它的头部旋转能力也在同类动物中首屈一指。
▲猫头鹰
为了方便在茂密的雨林中移动，三趾树懒常常像蝙蝠一样倒吊着攀爬，它们极其缓慢的速度在这里发挥了优势——可以保持中耳里的液体呈几乎静止的状态，以防止产生晕眩感。这时，三趾树懒会将头部转动180度，以看清周围的环境。记得《笑林广记》中有一篇《懒妇》，讲的是一个妇人脖子上挂了个大饼，却因懒得转头而只吃掉胸前的那口，最后被活活饿死的笑话。看来，那位妇人真该向三趾树懒学学。
如果说三趾树懒的头部可以通过转动而达到理想的状态，那么身体在倒吊时该如何进行自我保护呢？体内暂时储存的废物是否会因地心引力的作用而压迫到各个器官呢？
无法被自然法则淘汰
事实证明，我们人类想得太多了。在哥斯达黎加的树懒避难所，科学家们通过解剖自然死亡的三趾树懒，发现其体内有一种独特的纤维蛋白性粘连结构。这些物质连接三趾树懒的内脏与较低处的肋骨，虽然会对生物的肢体灵活性有影响，但三趾树懒慢悠悠的运动方式并无灵活性可言。它能充分保证各个器官在倒吊时悬挂在肋骨上，而不会随意变换位置。否则，三趾树懒的肺部极有可能受到肠道中废物的压迫，并会因肺部无法呼吸而调整姿势耗费掉身体10%以上的能量。
▲树懒的肝脏和上面附着的黏连物
但这并不是三趾树懒最神奇的地方。对于绝大多数哺乳动物而言，大家严格按照自然法则生长进化——有着相同的颈椎结构，就连短到几乎没有脖子的大象，和脖子长到突破屋顶的长颈鹿都拥有七节颈椎，并从第八节开始发育成肋骨。可偏偏三趾树懒独树一帜，有着与众不同的骨骼结构。
▲七颈椎结构
它们的第八节到第十节颈椎很明显“懒”得进化发育，整个躯干部位往下挪动了一大截，形成了一个独特的生物学分支——贫齿目。这类原本仅仅是南美洲独有的物种，在南北美洲大陆板块连接后，渐渐流向了北美洲。如今，穿山甲、食蚁兽和犰狳等都属于此目。
颈椎，一直都是体积最小、灵活性最大、活动频率最高的关节，同时支撑着大脑，依托着各类神经，是不可或缺的重要部位。对于人类而言，颈椎错位会引起头疼、眩晕、五官功能障碍、神经疼痛等病症，而若是先天性的颈椎错位发育突变，则会引发癌变、胸廓出口综合征等多种伴生疾病。可自然法则对于三趾树懒似乎无可奈何，它们本就不爱运动，多出的颈椎无法压迫到神经；又因为自身的新陈代谢率慢到令癌细胞生长缓慢，以至于在它们的有生之年无法完成癌变。
然而遗憾的是，有一种比自然法则更可怕的物质在威胁着三趾树懒的生活。由于人类肆意的乱砍乱伐和工业污染，适宜三趾树懒生活的雨林面积正在锐减。美洲雨林危机四伏，茂盛的树木是三趾树懒唯一的庇护场所，就让它们在其中不被打扰地做着美梦，一直活到地老天荒，不好吗？