Title: Activity Patterns, Preference and use of Floristic Resources by<i>Bradypus variegatus</i>in a Tropical Dry Forest Fragment, Santa Catalina, Bolívar, Colombia
Abstract: Monthly field surveys were carried out from February to September 2004 to study behavioral and ecological aspects of Bradypus variegatus in a tropical dry forest fragment on "El Ceibal", Santa Catalina, Bolívar, Colombia. The study included samples collected during the dry and wet seasons. Scan sampling was used to record B. variegatus activities (feeding, resting, moving, grooming, and surveillance). Plant species utilized for these activities were identified. Sloths spent most of their time resting (56%), followed by moving (23%), surveillance (10%), grooming (8%), and feeding (3%). Generally, sloths were found on trees with heights from 9 to 32 m, with canopy coverage of 9 to 364 m2 and diameter at chest height from 10 to 44.2 cm. Individuals were usually found in the tree canopy. Cavanillesia platanifolia (Bombacaceae), Guazuma umbilifolia and G. tomentosa (Sterculiaceae) were used as food sources.