Does sloths stink scare away predators?

The smelly algae growing in the fur of sloths does not primarily serve to scare away predators. While the smell may be unpleasant to humans, it's unlikely to be a significant deterrent to most predators.

Here's why:

* Predators have different senses: Sloths' primary predators, like jaguars, have much stronger senses of smell than humans. They can easily detect prey even with strong odors.

* Other defense mechanisms: Sloths have other, more effective defense mechanisms, such as camouflage, slow movements, and sharp claws.

* Not the main purpose: The algae is more likely a symbiotic relationship, where the algae benefits from a safe place to live and the sloth gets a camouflage benefit.

So, while the smell of sloth fur might be off-putting to humans, it's not a primary means of defense against predators.