Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) become extinct before 2100 due to climate change

NEWS - Sloths may not survive the significant temperature increases predicted to occur by 2100. The notoriously slow-moving creatures native to Central and South America may face an existential threat from climate change, researchers say.

Research examining the metabolic response of sloths to rising temperatures suggests that the animals’ energy constraints could make survival untenable by the end of the century, particularly for high-altitude populations.

Rebecca Cliffe of the Sloth Conservation Foundation in Derbyshire, United Kingdom, and colleagues investigated how Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni), which live in highland and lowland areas, respond to varying ambient temperatures.

Using indirect calorimetry, the researchers measured the sloths’ oxygen consumption and core body temperature under conditions that mimic projected climate change. The findings suggest a troubling future for sloths, particularly those living in high-altitude areas.

"Sloths are limited by their slow metabolism and inability to regulate body temperature effectively, unlike most mammals. We show that sloths, especially in high-altitude areas, may not be able to survive the significant temperature increases predicted to occur by 2100," Cliffe said.

Original research

Cliffe RN, Ewart HE, Scantlebury DM, Kennedy S, Avey-Arroyo J, Mindich D, Wilson RP. (2024). Sloth metabolism may make survival untenable under climate change scenarios. PeerJ 12:e18168, DOI:10.7717/peerj.18168

Dlium theDlium

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Sweetpotato bug (Physomerus grossipes)

Kutu ketela or sweetpotato bug ( Physomerus grossipes ) is an insect species in Coreidae, brown with black legs, adults growing about 2 cm long, oval shaped, segmented antennas, heavily veined membranes, metathoracic odor glands and enlarged rear tibia. P. grossipes generally live in Leguminosae and Convolvulaceae especially sweet potato ( Physomerus grossipes ), pink morning glory ( Ipomoea carnea ), purple beans ( Vigna unguiculata ), Asian pigeonwings ( Clitoria ternatea ) and common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ). Sweetpotato bugs suck liquid from the stem which causes plants to wither and disrupt fruit production. P. grossipes places eggs at the bottom of the leaves or stems or grass around them. Females are very protective of their children, keeping eggs and nymphs from predators as the most famous example of maternal care in Coreidae. Even so, about 20% of eggs are eaten by predators such as ants and 13% are lost by parasitoid predation by chalcid wasps which lay eggs in egg...

Javan broadhead planarian (Bipalium javanum)

Cacing palu or Javan broadhead planarian ( Bipalium javanum ) is a species of animal in Geoplanidae, hermaphrodite, living on the ground, predators, often called only hammerhead or broadhead or shovel worms because of wide heads and simple copulatory organs. B. javanum has a slim stature, up to 20 cm long, up to 0.5 cm wide, head wide up to 1 cm or less, small neck, widening in the middle and the back end is rounded, all black and shiny. Javan broadhead planarians walk above ground level by raising their heads and actively looking left, right and looking up using strong neck muscles. Move swiftly, track meander, climb to get through all obstacles or make a new path if the obstacle is too high. Cacing palu track and prey on earthworms and mollusks. They use muscles and sticky secretions to attach themselves to prey to lock in. The head and ends of the body are wrapped around and continue to close the body to stop prey reactions. They produce tetrodotoxins which are very strong...

Dlium