What is the direct thermodynamic necessity linking a sloth's diet to its famously slow movement?
Answer
Moving fast would require too many calories that the low-energy diet cannot easily supply.
The sloth's slowness is a direct necessity imposed by its diet; the leaves cannot easily replace the calories lost through unnecessary movement.
Related Questions
What is the primary dietary classification for sloths based on their staple food source?How specialized is the diet of the three-toed sloth (*Bradypus*) regarding tree species?Besides leaves, what other food items are incorporated into the wild diet of the two-toed sloth (*Choloepus*)?What process, similar to ruminants but slower, is essential for breaking down tough cellulose in the sloth's gut?What is the typical range for a complete digestive cycle in a sloth?What is the direct thermodynamic necessity linking a sloth's diet to its famously slow movement?Why must three-toed sloths be highly selective about the specific tree species they eat?What is a major concern when feeding excessive fruit to two-toed sloths in a captive setting?What factor fundamentally dictates the habitat selection for sloths?What supplemental item is frequently used in captive diets to ensure micronutrient coverage for sloths?