{"id":25196,"date":"2023-03-09T17:33:54","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T16:33:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=25196"},"modified":"2023-03-09T17:33:54","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T16:33:54","slug":"sloths-in-new-study-are-stronger-on-their-left-side","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/2023\/03\/09\/sloths-in-new-study-are-stronger-on-their-left-side\/","title":{"rendered":"Sloths in new study are stronger on their left side"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The consistent tendency for left sidedness across the individuals researched was unexpected <\/p>\n\n

\"\"
A sloth hangs by one arm and both legs. But is it always the left arm? <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

SLOTHS ARE SLOW FOR A REASON \u2013 TO minimise energy expenditure to survive on a diet of rough foliage. For the same reason, they also scrimp on muscle mass. But new research published in Journal <\/em>of <\/em>Zoology <\/em>shows that they haven\u2019t compromised on their grip strength. Melody Young and colleagues at the New York Institute of Technology have found that the grip of brown-throated three-toed sloths is, relative to their body mass, stronger than any arboreal primate. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe flexor muscles in the arms and legs are the only compartments they haven\u2019t cut muscle mass from,\u201d says team member Edwin Dickinson. <\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Co-author Melody Young and Jojo the sloth<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

While hanging suspended from branches is energy efficient, reserves of muscle power may be crucial when climbing up and down trees.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Tantalisingly, all five sloths tested were significantly stronger with their left arms than their right. \u201cOne possibility might be that they always hang from the same arm while doing things with the other hand,\u201d says Dickinson. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cOur sloths were often hanging by only one arm and both legs,\u201d says Young. \u201cSo it\u2019s possible that\u2019s what\u2019s going on. But we didn\u2019t quantify whether they were using their right or left arms.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n

\u201cAll we can do for now is speculate recklessly,\u201d says Dickinson. <\/p>\n\n

Stuart Blackman <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

SLOTH: LUCAS BUSTAMANTE\/NATUREPL.COM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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