About the Three Toed Sloth

The three toed sloth is uniquely adapted for life in the trees. It spends most of its time hanging upside down from branches in forests in Central and South America, and has become so adapted to this way of life that it is unable to stand up on the ground.

Appearance

The three-toed sloth is a mammal that weighs about 9 lbs. (4 kg) and is 23 inches in length. It is covered with long gray-brown fur, three large claws it has on each foot, a small head and a long neck.

Behavior

Three toed sloths are plant eaters. Their diet consists mostly of leaves, buds and stems from the liana and the cecropia trees. They spend much of their time hanging upside down from branches, suspended by their claws, but also sit for hours at a time in the forks between branches. Sloths generally live alone.

Range

Three toed sloths are found in Honduras, Columbia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. They are found in both tropical rain forests and more temperate forests.

Species

The three-toed sloth is classified in the scientific genus Bradypus. Four species are known to exist: Bradypus variegatus, Bradypus tridactylus, Bradypus torquatus and the pygmy three toed sloth, Bradypus pygmaeus, which was described only in 2001.

Threats

Three toes sloths fall prey to harpy eagles, jaguars, ocelots and anacondas. Because of habitat loss, they are considered endangered.

References

• Brown Throated Three Toed Sloth
• Three Toed Sloth
• Scientific Publications About the Genus Bradypus

Resources

• Animal Diversity Web
• Maned Three Toed Sloth