Where do sloths live?

Sloths live in the forests of Central and South America, in trees about 10 to 30 meters high.

【Two-Toed Sloth Family】

The two-toed sloth inhabits the dense forests of northern Colombia and Venezuela, Suriname, northern Brazil, and northern Peru.

Hoffman's two-toed sloth is found in the forests of Central America from Honduras to Brazil.

【Three-Toed Sloth Family】

The pale-throated three-toed sloth resides in Brazil.

The brown-throated three-toed sloth is found in Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia.

The maned sloth lives in southern Brazil.

The pygmy three-toed sloth inhabits an island off Central and South America.

What is the origin of the name 'sloth'?

The name 'sloth' comes from their appearance of hanging motionless from trees. The scientific name 'Folivora' means 'leaf eater', and the English name 'sloth' also means 'laziness'.

Why are sloths' limbs and claws so long?

Sloths have long limbs, with the forelimbs being even longer than the hindlimbs, making them well-suited for their arboreal lifestyle. Sloths also have hook-like claws, which they use to hang from branches.

Does hanging upside down from trees not tire sloths?

Yes. Sloths' organs such as their liver, stomach, and kidneys are anchored to their ribs, which prevents them from pressing against the diaphragm when hanging upside down. This allows them to hang for extended periods without issue. Even in death, sloths can remain hanging from tree branches.

Why are sloths always so still?

Sloths sleep for about 15-20 hours a day. When awake, they rarely move and simply eat leaves nearby. They remain so still that algae can grow on their long fur.

What do sloths eat?

Sloths feed on tree leaves and algae that grow on their own bodies. While two-toed sloths eat various leaves, buds, and fruits, three-toed sloths eat leaves from Cecropia trees. However, tree leaves are low in calories and nutrients, which would not be sufficient to sustain life if they ate like other animals.

Do sloths ever come down from the trees?

Sloths spend their lives in trees, where they sleep, eat, give birth, and remain largely motionless to blend in with the surrounding foliage and avoid predators. However, they descend from the trees only to defecate, which occurs about once every week to ten days.

How can sloths survive on such a nutrient-poor diet?

Sloths are able to survive on a nutrient-poor diet by conserving energy. They spend most of their day sleeping and only occasionally eat leaves or defecate, which means they require minimal muscle mass and nutrients.

Is it true that sloths can starve with a full stomach?

Yes, it's true. Sloths can starve even though their stomachs are full! This is because the digestion of leaves by intestinal bacteria in their stomachs is incredibly slow, taking up to 30 days to digest a single leaf.

How fast can sloths run?

Sloths move very slowly, managing only about 2-5 meters per minute. Two-toed sloths are slightly faster than three-toed sloths.

Can sloths swim?

Two-toed sloths cannot swim as their face does not remain above water. However, three-toed sloths are good swimmers and can move faster in water than on land, an adaptation to the periodically flooded environments of the Amazon.

How do baby sloths grow?

Sloths have a gestation period of 6 to 12 months, after which they give birth to a single baby. Baby sloths cling to their mothers for several months, being fed and protected until they are ready to live independently.

What are the natural predators of sloths?

Sloths' natural predators include ground predators like pumas and jaguars, and aerial predators such as harpy eagles. When sloths detect these predators, they can only stop moving and try to blend into the trees.

What were the extinct sloths like?

Extinct sloths lived in South America from about 2 million to 10,000 years ago, including species like Megatherium, which was one of the largest terrestrial sloths, reaching lengths of 6-8 meters and weights of up to 3 tons.

Can sloths be kept as pets?

While sloths can be purchased at specialty exotic pet stores, they are expensive and difficult to care for in a typical home. Additionally, sloths are very delicate and can suffer significant stress and damage from routine handling.

Where can you meet a sloth?

Sloths can be seen at zoos and safari parks. As of February 2021, zoos where you can meet two-toed sloths include North Safari Sapporo and Nasu Animal Kingdom in Japan.