Sloth Snacks: Cecropia Trees!

Sloths are mammals who live in Central and South America. There are two-toed sloths (Megalonychidae family) and three-toed sloths (Bradypodidae family). Sloths are leaf eaters, with the bulk of their diet coming from the buds, shoots and leaves of trees such as those as in the Cecropia genus. Check out this beautiful and delicious Red Cecropia tree (Cecropia glaziovii):

Red Cecropia Tree photo by Eurico Zimbres (public domain) 

These trees were around long before someone gave them the name Cecropia, which comes from the name of the mythical first king of Athens. Obviously, that has nothing to do with tropical trees growing in the Americas. 

Cecropia trees are, however, good for sloth viewing, because they have more space between the branches in comparison to some denser trees of the rainforest canopy.  And because the leaves are very tasty to sloths! The trees also produce fruit which is tasty to birds, fruit bats, monkeys, opossums, and other forest-dwellers. Basically, the tree is an invitation to party for many forest inhabitants.  In exchange for the party, the birds and animals that eat the fruit spread the seeds elsewhere so that more party-trees can grow. How do they do this? The seeds are not digestible, so while the animals digest the yummy pulp of the fruit, the seeds pass right on through into their poop, which carries the seeds to a place where they can germinate and grow into new trees.

The trees also have been very helpful to human animals in the forest for food and firewood.  Leaves can be used for sandpaper, wood for building things and burning, and some people have discovered food and medicinal uses for parts of the trees.