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The pygmy three-toed sloth does not interact with many species; however, it forms a few important bonds with some of the organisms around it, the most important of these being with the mangrove trees on the island. It is with these trees that they live out the majority in their life in, as they act as primary sources of food, and places of shelter where the sloths sleep, which is what they do a majority of the time. The pygmy sloth has also made a connection with two specific unique species of other plant, Cyanoderma and Trichophilus algae, which grow on its fur likely starting from its childhood when passed off by its mother. These algae are thought to have formed an important symbiosis with the pygmy sloth due to the fact that while the algae have no detrimental effect on its health that is apparent, it acts as a form of camouflage for it. The algae will become noticeably green during the rainy season, helping it resemble lush vegetation, while in the dry season the algae helps the sloth disappear among dead bark and leaves by appearing dirty brown. It is also believed the alga may be responsible for providing certain nutrients, then can also entice the attraction of another species towards it, the Cryptoses cholepopi moth. This moth does not have any influence on the sloth itself, but rather will flutter around the sloth usually staying nearby for the source of nutrients it needs. Another interaction it holds with species, yet a minor one at that, is the effect with several insects including the Trichillum beetle and the amblyomma greyi and amblyomma varium ticks. While the beetle is found nesting in the sloth’s fur, the ticks can be found within its dung, of which they feed on. Looking at the few organisms it interacts with in a direct or indirect way, the most important one however it has is with the mangrove tree, as without it the pygmy sloths would likely be extinct already, a direct correlation showing the connection between the amount of tree’s present in the habitats with the number of Bradypus pygmaeus alive.
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Amblyomma Varium tick