Southern maned sloth
| Southern maned sloth | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Pilosa |
| Family: | Bradypodidae |
| Genus: | Bradypus |
| Species: | B. crinitus
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| Binomial name | |
| Bradypus crinitus Gray, 1850
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| Southern maned sloth range | |
The southern maned sloth (Bradypus crinitus) is a three-toed sloth species.
Description
The southern maned sloths have flatter skulls, rounder jaws, and wider cheekbones than the northern maned sloths.[1] The species has a head that looks like a coconut.
Distribution
The sloth is endemic to Brazil's Atlantic Forest, a highly biodiverse region. Southern maned sloths were found in Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo.[2]
Discovery
The species was discovered by John Edward Gray in 1850, but his assertions were later dismissed, with taxonomists agreeing that the specimen, that Gray described was a B. torquatus, but the new study proves that B. critinus does indeed exist.[1] The B. crinitus separated from B. torquatus in the north by more than 4 million years of evolution.[3]
Name
The sloth received Gray's old name, Bradypus crinitus.[3] The name crinitus means 'hairy', referring to its coconut-like head.[4]
References
- ^ a b "New Species Of Coconut Headed Sloth Identified In Brazilian Jungle". IFLScience. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ "New Animal Species Discovered | Conservation & Wildlife". 2023-01-13. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ a b "Newly recognised species of sloth has a head like a coconut". New Scientist. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ "Top 15 species discoveries from 2022 (Photos)". Mongabay Environmental News. 2022-12-29. Retrieved 2023-02-19.