Sloth World was started in the spring of 2001, as an idea jointly conceived by Robert McAfee and Virginia Naples.  The goal was to compile a listing of references and publications relating to sloths, both living and extinct, that could be accessed from anywhere in the world via simple internet connection.  It began as a personal tool to aid in the doctoral research of Mr. McAfee, as there wasn't a good listing at the time of sloth publications that would assist a budding slothologist in their quest for background research.  The site also served as a means of providing a ready list of publications that one could search for while researching at other institutions. 

Over the years, Sloth World has slowly expanded from those humble beginnings to become accessible to all who have an interest in these fascinating Xenarthrans.  Though the updates are slow (sorry), the site has grown to include a listing of known genera, listings of type descriptions, and now offers PDFs of select papers upon request.  There are even more plans for future growth, which are hoped to be of further use and assistance to the friends and visitors of Sloth World.

About the Creator/WebMaster:
Robert McAfee began his interest in sloths while finishing his Bachelor degree in biology at Bowling Green State University.  After graduation, he enrolled in the PhD program in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Illinois University, specifically working in the field of Paleontology.  His recently complete dissertation is entitled "Reassessing the Taxonomy and Affinities of the Mylodontinae Sloths, Glossotherium and Paramylodon (Mammalia: Xenarthra: Tardigrada)," and will hopefully be available soon in PDF section. He is currently a professor at Doane College in Nebraska, and is continuing to pursue sloth research.