Sloth

About this book

A colourful and wide-ranging account of the evolution, biology and cultural history of sloths.

Sloths are perhaps the most recognized and loved Central and South American animals, but despite their renown and popularity as cartoon characters, toys and memes, they are not well understood. This book offers a colourful, richly illustrated and wide-ranging account of the biological and cultural history of these fascinating mammals.

Alan Rauch explores sloths' gigantic prehistoric ancestors and their evolution into the lethargic, green-hued creatures that live and survive in forest canopies today. From the tale of how sloths were named after a deadly sin to their current status as unflappable icons of a stress-free lifestyle, Sloth shows how fascinating, engaging and inspiring these animals are.

Contents

Preface

1 The Modern Sloth
2 Anatomy and Physiology
3 Sloth Species and Evolution
4 The Sin of Sloth and the Sloths of Sin
5 Sloths in Culture
6 Sloths, Conservation and Eco-Awareness

Timeline
References
Select Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Alan Rauch is a Professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and his many books include Dolphin (2013) in Reaktion's Animal series.