Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why can three-toed sloths turn their heads through a 270-degree arc?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
sloth
Juvenile three-toed sloth (Bradypus) climbing a tree branch.
Three-toed sloths are able to turn their heads through a 270-degree arc because they possess eight or nine neck vertebrae, whereas most other mammals have only seven. This unique skeletal structure provides them with an exceptional range of motion.1