Species Spotlight: Sloth

Questions and answers

Where does the three-toed sloth live?
The three-toed sloth is an arboreal animal, inhabiting the tropical forests of Central and South America. Feeding, sleeping, mating, and giving birth all happen in the trees.

How many groups of sloths are there?
There are two groups of sloths – two-toed sloths have two claws on their front limbs and three-toed sloths have three claws on all four limbs.

How much do sloths eat?
Sloths eat very little food a day since digestion takes a long time to complete, sometimes days or even weeks.

Habitat

Sloths spend a majority of their time up in the canopy, coming down only one time per week to relieve themselves.
Diet

Sloths munch on leaves, twigs and buds.
Threats

Though not all sloths are endangered, some of the six species are threatened by habitat loss.
INTERESTING FACT

Sloths live solitary lives and travel between trees using canopy vines. They depend on the health and survival of Central and South American tropical forests.