sloth bear

The term refers specifically to Melursus ursinus, a species distinct from the sloth (the arboreal mammal). The name derives from the animal's shaggy, unkempt appearance and slow, lumbering gait, which superficially resemble that of a sloth, rather than any taxonomic relationship between the two.

In a zoological context, this bear is distinguished by its specialized anatomy for myrmecophagy, such as the lack of upper incisors and a highly developed sense of smell, which allows it to locate insect mounds in the wild.