Overview

Sloths are perhaps the most recognised 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.

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9781789147995

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Reviews

"""A well-woven story on sloths that is as engaging and entertaining as it is educational. Wonderfully erudite and richly illustrated, this work is not just an excellent summary of the natural history of sloths but integrates a cultural-historical perspective of sloths in a way that I have not seen done before. Rauch does a good job describing the complexities surrounding our fascination with sloths over the centuries vis-à-vis our incomplete understanding of these curious creatures and the conservation challenges and needs that they have had to face on our changing planet. A delightful read filled with fun facts and observations that are bundled together and found consolidated nowhere else, I highly recommended this volume. This is great addition to the literature on these enigmatic and charismatic creatures.""--Erik F. Y. Hom, University of Mississippi ""As a sloth expert, I rarely read things about sloths that I didn't already know. However, Rouch's coverage of all things sloth, including the extinct giant species and historical references throughout time and cultures, had me genuinely fascinated. I also appreciated the continued emphasis on responsible sloth tourism throughout the book and awareness raised about their threats and conservation efforts.""--Sam Trull, co-founder and director of the Sloth Institute, Costa Rica"

Author Information

Alan Rauch is professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

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