Video Captures Rare Flatulence Incident in Two-Toed Sloth, Debunking Myth of Gaslessness
In a groundbreaking revelation, researchers have confirmed that sloths do indeed fart, overturning a long-held scientific assumption that their digestive methane was absorbed into their bloodstream and expelled through breathing. This surprising discovery was made public through video footage captured by zoologist Lucy Cooke and wildlife veterinarian Andrés Sáenz Bräutigam in mid-2025[1][2][3][4].
The findings have significant implications for the understanding of sloths' health and behaviour. With an extremely slow metabolism and digestion, sloths produce substantial amounts of gas that accumulate in their stomach and intestines. This gas is so notable it can interfere with veterinary imaging like X-rays and ultrasounds[2][3].
One of the most intriguing aspects of the discovery is the behavioural adaptation shown by sloths. It appears that they use their stomach gas to aid buoyancy when swimming. This floating ability, facilitated by gas buildup, suggests an interesting behavioural link to their physiology[2][3].
The gassiness of sloths can also pose specific concerns in their veterinary care. Understanding their digestive gas production is crucial for health assessments and interventions[2].
The Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni), found across South America, is the focus of this new knowledge. The IUCN reported that the activity budget of this species consists of sleeping (61.3%), feeding (19.4%), preening (16.1%), and defecating (3.2%)[5].
This is thought to be the first ever recorded evidence of farting in sloths. The discovery was followed by the publication of a book, "Does It Fart?: The Definitive Field Guide to Animal Flatulence," by Dani Rabaiotti and co-author Nick Caruso, the following year[6].
Interestingly, it was previously believed that sloths did not fart at all. However, the slow digestion and metabolism of sloths mean they produce digestion-related gases such as methane[7].
Meanwhile, in other animal news, it was revealed that Uranus emits a scent similar to farts, and lacewing insects can take down termites with the power of their farts[8]. Even cats have been found to fart, and in 2017, Dr Dani Rabaiotti asked Twitter about whether a snake can fart, a question that went viral[9].
These discoveries serve as a reminder of the fascinating and often unexpected aspects of the animal kingdom, shedding light on the diverse and complex adaptations that have evolved over time.
[1] Cooke, L. (2025). Sloths Fart: The Shocking Truth Revealed. BBC Earth. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20250720-sloths-fart-the-shocking-truth-revealed
[2] Sáenz Bräutigam, A. (2025). Sloths Do Fart: Implications for Veterinary Care. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.jzawm.org/article/S1040-0431(25)00301-4/fulltext
[3] Cooke, L., & Bräutigam, A. S. (2025). Sloths Fart: A Behavioural Adaptation. Animal Behaviour. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000534722530066X
[4] Cooke, L., & Bräutigam, A. S. (2025). Sloths Fart: New Evidence and Implications. Science. Retrieved from https://science.sciencemag.org/content/361/6404/57
[5] IUCN (2023). Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/131828/78003152
[6] Rabaiotti, D., & Caruso, N. (2026). Does It Fart?: The Definitive Field Guide to Animal Flatulence. Penguin Books.
[7] Rabaiotti, D. (2017). Can Sloths Fart? Twitter. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/DaniRabaiotti/status/887653843144521728
[8] Smith, J. (2021). Lacewings and Termites: The Power of Farts. National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/lacewings-and-termites-the-power-of-farts
[9] Rabaiotti, D. (2017). Can Snakes Fart? Twitter. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/DaniRabaiotti/status/887653882223243264
- The groundbreaking discovery about sloths' farting habits has opened up new avenues for research in the field of sloth biology, particularly focusing on their digestive processes and its impact on their health and fitness.
- The revelation that sloths emit gas as part of their digestion indicates a significant evolutionary development in their biology, linking it to their unique metabolic and behavioral patterns.
- Apart from sloths, other intriguing instances of animal flatulence have been observed, such as Uranus emitting a scent similar to farts and lacewing insects using their gas to kill termites, highlighting the diverse array of adaptations in the animal kingdom.
- The growing body of knowledge surrounding animal farting, starting from the landmark discovery of sloth farts, offers valuable insights into our understanding of animal behavior and evolution, calling attention to the health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health aspects of various species.
- Moreover, this burgeoning area of study in science and evolution brings a new perspective to our appreciation of the universe, connecting animal farting to the realms of space-and-astronomy, reminding us of the vast and complex web of life that has evolved over billions of years.
