Sloth Bears Written and Illustrated By: McKinley Wood 2 nd Grade 2012

Sloth Bears Thompson Publishing Company Inc., Copyright 2012 Written and Illustrated By: McKinley Wood 2 nd Grade 2012

For My Family and My Teachers

Table of Contents 1 Sloth Bear Facts 2 – 3 Sloth Bear Habitat 4 Sloth Bear Diet 5 Two- toed Sloth Bear Diagram 6 Three-toed Sloth Bear Diagram 7 Sloth Bear Life Cycle 8 Glossary 9 References 10

Sloth Bear Facts Sloth Bears can be 2 to 2.5 feet long and weigh 8 to 17 lbs. They have long arms and shaggy fur. They look like monkeys. They are related to the armadillos and anteaters. Sloths are drowsy, tree dwellers. They sleep up to 20 hours a day. They hardly move. They are so sluggish that algae grows on their fur. 2

Sloth Bear Facts (continued) The algae helps to protect sloths by making them blend in with the green leaves. They are identified by their front feet. There are two-toed sloths and three-toed sloths. The two-toed sloths are larger and spend more time hanging upside-down than the three toed. The three-toed sloths always look like they are smiling. 3

Sloth Bear Habitat Sloth Bears live in the tropical forest of Central and South America. They spend most of their time in the trees in the jungles. They only come down out of the trees once a week to go to the bathroom. They move very slowly and drag their bodies. They are clumsy on land, but great swimmers. 4

Sloth Bears Diet Sloths eat leaves and fruit. They get the water that they need from plants. 5

Two-Toed Sloth Bear Diagram 6

Three-Toed Sloth Bear Diagram 7

Sloth Bear Life Cycle The adult, female sloth has one baby each year. She takes care of the baby for six months. She gives the baby leaves to eat when it is 2 weeks old. The mother carries the baby for about six months. She shows the baby trees that she feeds on. Then, she leaves the baby all by itself. If the baby lives, it can live up to 20 – 50 years. 8

Glossary anteaters -A mammal about 4 feet long with a bushy tail. It feeds on ants and has a long, sticky tongue and a long snout. armadillos – Mammals allied to anteaters having some teeth, and an armor of horny scales covering the body. They eat insects and worms. clumsy – awkward, stiff, poorly made sluggish - Slow to act or move. tropical forest – A climate characterized by high temperatures and having rainfall throughout the year. 9

References 10 Books The Bear, Sabrina Crewe Bears, Lynn Stone Websites refeature images.com

Sloth Bear Photos 11