Sloths Sloths are a medium sized mammal. There are two types of sloth, the two toed, and the three toed sloth. They are classified into six different species: Pygmy three-toed sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus) Maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus) Pale-throated sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) Brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) Hoffman’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni Sloths are slow moving mammals, they spend their lives up in the tree canopies of the rainforest. The most common medium sized mammal in the rainforests of Central and South america, is the brown-throated sloth. They are an important part of the rainforest ecosystem. Tropical rainforests are at risk of deforestation, without lots of trees, the sloths will lose their shelter and food source. What do sloths eat? Sloths like to munch on leaves, twigs, and buds. Sloths do not have incisors, so they smack their lips together to trim down leaves. Sloths are classed as herbivores, but they sometimes eat eggs, lizards, and insects. Hibiscus for sloths is just like chocolate for humans!
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Sloths
Sloths are a medium sized mammal. There are two types of sloth, the two toed, and the three toed sloth. They are classified into six different species: Pygmy three-toed sloth (Bradypus
pygmaeus) Maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus) Pale-throated sloth (Bradypus
tridactylus) Brown-throated sloth (Bradypus
variegatus) Linnaeus’s two-toed
sloth (Choloepus didactylus) Hoffman’s two-toed
sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni
Sloths are slow moving mammals, they spend their lives up in the tree canopies of the rainforest.
The most common medium sized mammal in the rainforests of Central and South america, is the brown-throated sloth. They are an important part of the rainforest ecosystem.
Tropical rainforests are at risk of deforestation, without lots of trees, the sloths will lose their shelter and food source.
What do sloths eat?
Sloths like to munch on leaves, twigs, and buds. Sloths do not have incisors, so they smack their lips together to trim down leaves. Sloths are classed as herbivores, but they sometimes eat eggs, lizards, and insects. Hibiscus for sloths is just like chocolate for humans!
Their slow metabolic rate means sloths can survive on very little food. It takes days for them to process their food, and only come down out of the canopy once a week for a wee and a poo.
The two toed sloth is the world’s slowest mammal, they are so slow that algae grows on their furry coats. The algae helps protect sloths against predators, as it acts as
camouflage.
Sloths can be identified by the number of claws on their front feet.
What do sloths look like?
Sloths have furry bodies, a flat head, big eyes, small ears, and long clawed limbs.
Sloths are between 50 – 60cms long.
They weigh 15 – 18lbs.
Sloths can stretch their tongues out 25 - 30cms.
Two toed sloths are nocturnal mammals, but three toed sloths are most active during the day.
In the wild, sloths live for 10 - 16 years, but in captivity they can live over 30 years.
Sloths sleep for 10 – 15 hours a day.
Sloths are really good swimmers.
Where do sloths live?
Sloths use their long claws to hang on onto branches while they feast on leaves.
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