Why do sloths move so slowly?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Low metabolism saves energy
They're always tired — Wrong. Sloths aren't tired—slowness is their survival strategy, not exhaustion.
Slow muscles are stronger — Wrong. Sloth muscles are actually quite weak. Their slowness isn't about strength.
Low metabolism saves energy ✓ — Correct! Sloths eat low-calorie leaves and have very slow metabolisms. Moving slowly conserves energy. It also helps them avoid predators—their slowness makes them hard to spot! They can take a month to digest one meal.
Go deeper: Metabolism
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