Sloths, Moths and Algae all Work Together

There is nothing that compares to the sloth when it comes to intricate connections between living things. They may not move swiftly, but they also don't need to because sloths collaborate with moths and algae in a mutually beneficial three-way relationship.

You may have noticed that certain sloths' fur has a green tint. Algae are what is encroaching in their fur's furrows. A complete ecology of insects, including cockroaches and moths, call their thick fur home. The sloth has incredible natural camouflage because of the algae and the bugs working together. In the jungle, hanging from a tree branch, they would be virtually undetectable to most predators.

The algae that grow on the sloths' bodies is something they eat in addition to providing cover. And if you are familiar with sloths, you are aware that they descend to the ground to urinate. Yet why? They might as well crap from the trees. However, as the sloths descend to the ground, they can come into contact with the areas where moths deposit their eggs in and around the sloth dung. This enables fresh moths to settle in their fur. The moths do this to raise the nitrogen levels in the fur, which encourages more algae development. Thus, the sloths eating the algae have brought us full circle.