Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths are found in tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Known as the world’s slowest mammal, they sleep 15 to 18 hours a day.
The life of a Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth
Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths can grow up to 21 to 29 inches long, weigh 10 to 20 pounds and live up to 15 years in the wild, and 25 to 30 in human care. They are named for the two toes on their front limbs, but their back limbs have three toes.
Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths are tree-dwellers that live high in the forest canopy away from most predators. Their front limbs are longer than their back limbs, which help them climb. They are omnivores that eat mainly vegetation, but will eat insects, eggs and small invertebrates when they are easily available.
Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths are solitary and pair up only to mate, which happens year-round. Females usually give birth to a single baby after seven to ten months. They give birth in trees while hanging upside down. Newborns cling to their mother’s chest immediately after birth to begin nursing. They remain clinging to their mother for about five weeks until they can move on their own.
Predators include harpy eagles, jaguars and ocelots.
Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths at the zoo
The Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth is an ambassador animal at the zoo. She helps educate guests about her species during special presentations.
