Linne's Two-Toed Sloth
(Choloepus didactylus)
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Animal Type
Mammals
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Exhibits
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Range
South America
Overview
These slow-moving mammals spend their days lounging high up in trees, often enjoying their favorite activity: sleeping. Nocturnal by nature, sloths are more active at night—but not for long! These animals can sleep up to 20 hours a day.
The Linne’s two-toed sloth is commonly found in South America’s rain forests. With two toes on their front feet and three on their back limbs, they are perfectly designed for life in trees. In fact, they even mate and give birth while hanging upside down!
In the first stage of their lives, baby sloths tend to be a bit on the clingy side. They start tasting solid foods within their first few weeks but remain with their mother for nearly a year.
A Note From the Caretaker
Two-toed sloths have interesting teeth. They have four canine-like teeth and an additional 14 teeth that are like molars. Their teeth grow continually and lack enamel.
Quick Facts
Learn more about the Linne’s two-toed sloth! Did you know that sloths come down from their trees to defecate and have preferred spots where they go?
This species is found in Northern South America.
These sloths eat leaves, shoots, fruits and the occasional egg. Here at the Aquarium, the sloths are fed green beans, sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini and other vegetables, and a commercial diet formulated especially for leaf-eating animals. As a treat, the Aquarium sloths get grapes and other fruits.
Adult Linne’s two-toed sloths are about the same size as a small dog, approximately 24 to 30 inches in length and about 12 to 20 pounds.
The Linne’s two-toed sloth is not currently considered threatened or endangered, but habitat loss and fragmentation of forests pose concerns for the species. Threats like these have endangered other species of sloth, such as the maned three-toed sloth and pygmy three-toed sloth.
Ocelots, jaguars and harpy eagles are the sloth's primary predators. Forest fragmentation forces sloths to come to the ground to move from tree to tree, which puts them in danger, as do uninsulated power lines. The pet trade is also a threat to sloths.
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