Slothstrich

Discovery LocationSecluded Cloud Forests of Madagascar

Lead ResearcherProfessor Jian Li

Field Report Summary

Physical Description

Large bird, similar in size to an ostrich, but with a sloth-like physique. Covered in shaggy, brownish-green feathers that mimic algae growth. Extremely long, curved claws on its feet, adapted for gripping branches. Long, thin neck. Small head with a short, blunt beak. Moves slowly and deliberately, but capable of surprising bursts of speed when threatened.

Habitat

Tropical rainforest canopy

Dietary Behavior

A slow-moving herbivore, it grazes on leaves, fruits, and occasionally insects.

Evolutionary Origin

Believed to be the result of a chromosomal fusion event between ancestral sloth and ostrich lineages during a period of rapid island radiation.

Behavioral Notes

Despite its ostrich heritage, it prefers to hang upside down from trees, only venturing to the ground when absolutely necessary.