look exactly like leaves. Camouflage also works in reverse, helping predators, such as boa constrictors, sneak up on unsuspecting animals and surprise them. SLOW AS A SNAIL The tree-toed sloth is born with brown fur, but you would never know this by looking at it. The green algae that makes its home in the sloths fur helps it to blend in with the tops of the trees, the canopy, where it makes it’s home. But even green algae isn't the only thing living in a sloth’s fur; it is literally “bugged” with a variety of insects. 978 beetles were once found living on one sloth. The sloth has other clever adaptations. Famous for its snail-like pace; it is one of the slowest moving animals on earth. It is so slow that it often takes up to a month to digest it’s food. Although its tasty meat would make a good meal for jaguars and other predators, most do not notice the sloth as it hangs in the trees, high up in the canopy. DEADLY CREATURES Other animals don’t want to announce their presence to the whole forest. Armed with dangerous poisons used in life threatening situations, their bright colors warn predators to stay away. This enables them to survive everyday emergency situations. The coral snake of the Amazon, with its brilliant red, yellow, and black coloring, is recognized as one of the most beautiful snakes in the world, but it is just as deadly as it is beautiful. The coral snake’s deadly poison can kill in seconds. Other animals know to stay away from it. The poison arrow frog also stands out with its brightly colored skin. It's skin produces some of the strongest natural poison in the world, which indigenous people often use for hunting purposes. It's poison is now being tested for use in modern medicine. In a single raiforest habitat, several species of squirels can live together without harming one another. This bewilders many people, Louise Emmons found. Why can nine s...
