Two-toed Slothフタユビナマケモノ

Species Data

Classification

Pilosa / Choloepodidae Source

Distribution

Native to northern South America — Venezuela, the Guianas, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil north of the Amazon — inhabiting tropical rainforest canopy. Source

Did You Know?

• It is the largest living sloth species and spends nearly its entire life in the canopy, descending to the ground only about once a week to defecate. Source
• Its belly hair is parted along the midline and flows toward the spine — the opposite direction from most other mammals. Source
• Due to its slow digestion and infrequent defecation, it produces unusually high volumes of methane compared with similarly sized herbivores. Source

FAQ

How often do two-toed sloths come down from the trees?

Very rarely — they descend to the ground only about once a week, primarily to defecate, spending virtually all other time in the canopy. Source

How long do two-toed sloths live?

In the wild they average around 20 years, but in captivity individuals have been recorded living 40 to 50 years. Source

Is the two-toed sloth endangered?

No. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern, as it remains widespread across the rainforests of northern South America. Source