Inspired by a student who wanted to study sloths, a lot of really interesting words were discovered along with their connection to other words known and partially known. Sloths are known for being slow and moving while hanging on a branch. Sloth are divided into 2-toed sloths and 3-toed sloths.

Sloths are of the order of xenarthra. The initial base is from Greek, ξένος, xénos, “foreign, different,” while the second base also from Greek, ἄρθρον, árthron, “joint.” Essentially they were named for appearing to be differently jointed. Anteaters and armadillos are also in the order of xenarthra. This initial base can be seen in the commonly used word in today’s media – xenophobe. This would be someone who is afraid of someone who is foreign or of a foreign country. The second part of this order can be seen in the joint condition of arthritis.

Sloths are also classified as folivores. With a recent study of <foliage>, it became apparent that this was a foliage-eating animal. The base in foliage has to do with leaves. Etymologically, it is related to flora, floral, florid, flourish, flower and even flour. As related to the sloth, though, I found it interesting that it is not classified as herbivore, but specifically folivore, which is specifically the leaves. Since they live in trees, being leaf-eating is significant.

Lastly is the fact their locomotion is described as tardigradus. The first element is Latin tardis for “slow” and the second element is Latin gradi for “step.” So this would mean a slow-moving animal, which is the most well-known characteristic. We see connected word for slow: tardy, retardation and just plain tardation. The base of <grade> can be seen in these words: grade, gradient, graduation, centigrade, and retrograde. It also appears in descriptions of other types of walking: gravigrade (heavy walker), digitigrade (walking on end of digits/toes), plantigrade (walking on soles of feet). This root is rich with etymological relatives, giving us the base of <gress>: digress, transgress, aggression, progress, and even congress. Then one of my favorite relatives: ingredient (for those that like to bake).

We’ve spent a lot of time watching sloths at the zoo and watching programs about them. Sloths have been an animal I’ve have learned about related to its behavior, but it’s even more interesting learning some of these scientific names that have been attached to them.