Panamanian Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus variegatus)

The Panamanian three - toed sloth or commonly Brown throated three - toed sloth is best characterized by its brown color on the throat and head. Its green outer appearance is caused by algae that inhabit their outer fur. It is typically endothermic having the ability to generate heat in maintaining its own body temperature. However, Brown throated sloths have difficulty in maintaining their body temperature in cooler environments. 

Physical Characteristics and Behavior

Bradypus variegatus have a prominent dark brown forehead and a suborbital stripe around the eye area. They have stomachs that are divided into several compartments just like any other ungulates, and inside it are microfauna that are responsible for digesting cellulose in their diet comprising of plants. They can rotate their necks up to 270 degrees and relatively small heart. 

Photo credits to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/artour_a/ 

Unlike other canopy species, this sloth specie is considered to have strange bathroom habits. Instead of just dropping off their waste, they occasionally descend from treetops every eight days to defecate. Upon reaching the ground, they will dig a hole by use of their tail then put the urine and droppings in it; after that, they cover it. Researchers are long been studying about this behavior of three-toed sloths (which puts danger on them) but discovered nothing. Brown throated three-toed sloths sleep approximately 16 hours per day. Although sloths have a reputation of being lazy and static, they can move quickly when they need to. 

Dwelling places 

Brown throated sloths live in tree canopies all of their lives, but can also be found on the ground in rare occasions. They mostly prefer trees having crowns fully exposed to sunlight whatever tree species it may be. This is probably due to their need to maintain bodily temperature. They are native to South and Central America. 

Body Parts Adaptations

Compared to other mammals, the fur of brown throated sloths hangs backwards starting from their belly which enables raindrops to easily run off their fur keeping them dry. This adaptation helps them maintain body temperature even when raining while hanging on trees. Another thing is that, their hands and feet are adapted to being hook-like that helps the climb and cling to trees at ease.  

One interesting thing to know about brown throated three-toed sloths is that they do not drink water. Their diet, comprising mostly of leaves gives them enough moisture without needing to drink water anymore. 

Some Leading Causes of Rainforest Destruction

"Deforestation, in other words, is an expression of social injustice."

- Marcus Colchester

Deforestation or rainforest destruction is among the major problems in almost every nation in the world but is commonly not addressed properly. In fact, no one knows how wide is the effect of this destruction to the environment and even to us, humans. Data presented are not precise, and it also yields different interpretation. 

Here we have listed some of the leading causes of rainforest destruction that may lead to how we can think of the ways on how to address them:

Logging. The practice of cutting down mature trees for their timber by commercial companies and expecting them to regrow naturally is actually untrue. Selective logging, as they termed it causes great damage to rainforest not only affecting the trees to be cut down, but also other trees that are surrounding nearby. Heavy machineries and construction of roads for these equipments are of great threat to the natural growth of rainforest. Cutting down of a mature tree accompanies destruction to plants, vines and epiphytes depending on it, and the tracks constructed for machineries cause damage to the ground. 

Construction of Large Dams. Studies showed that thousands of hectares of rainforest are being destroyed every year in construction of hydro-electric dams. This construction not only led to lasting effects of rainforest destruction but can also have destructive effects to humans. In several countries, sheer weight in dams are proven to be the cause of earthquakes; waterborne diseases increased; and as dams trap silt, it produce soil erosion. 

Tourism. Who would even thought that tourism purposes which are intended to benefit the people can cause destruction of rainforest that can harm the people? How? Through the construction of national parks. National parks are constructed in order to make people especially tourists aware of the wonders of nature, but excessive tourism produces great destruction to the natural rainforest. Pollution of waterways and ineffective waste management programs are sacrificed. 

Animal Raising and Planting. Clearing of forests for the purpose of land cultivation and planting are causes of present ay forest degradation. As we all know, forest soil are sensitive to any chemical put in it and because farming and agriculture practices are now in the use of artificial fertilizers and feeds, the quality of soil decreases gradually. What’s more alarming is that, crops harvested from these farms are exported to richer countries rather than the local people benefiting from this products.

Facts You Need to Know About Panama

Consider this palindrome: “A man a plan a canal Panama.”

 Probably you know what we have here. Welcome to a deeper knowledge about the Republic of Panama.

Panama can be found on Central America in the southernmost part. It connects the North and South America surrounded by the countries of Columbia on the right and Costa Rica on the left. It is the only country in the world wherein you can witness the sunrise at the Pacific Ocean and the sunset at the Atlantic Ocean. It is also in this country where you can have the chance of swimming both of the oceans just in one day!

Spanish is the official language in Panama brought by colonization in the 16th century but a great number of locals are fluent in speaking English. Panama also has the smallest population in Central America with a number of 3,120,000 as assessed by the United Nations in 2003. It is a tropical country consisting only of two seasons: wet and dry.  Dry season extends from December to April and May to November is the rainy season. Panama is considered one of the best places for tourists because it is not affected by hurricanes and tropical storms.

To where did Panama derived its name?

Just like any other nation in the world, it is interesting to know the history behind Panama’s name. Several theories abound about the etymology of Panama. It was believed to come from local specie of tree and some stories tell that the first settlers of Panama arrived in August when butterflies are all over the place. That’s why in an indigenous language, ‘Panama’ means “many butterflies”. But the best known version is regarding a Spanish captain that explores its Pacific side which is known for abundance of fish that became the site for the Empire’s Pacific City. Thus, it means “an abundance of fish”.

The two mentioned etymology are the official general definition of the name of the country published in their Social Studies textbooks approved by Panama’s Ministry of Education.
 

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Don't ya know she's coming home with me
You'll lose her in that turn
I'll get her!

Panama, Panama
Panama, Panama

Ever heard of this Van Halen’s song? Did you know that out of 10 Panamanians, seven of them haven’t heard of this song which bears their country’s name as its title? Funny, but it’s true.