LifespanAverage of 28 years under human care
Quick facts
DietLeaves, small twigs and fruits
HabitatCanopy layer of tropical rainforests
RangeNorthern part of South America
The two-toed sloths
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Topsy-turvy lifestyle
Whether they are sleeping, eating, mating, or giving birth, sloths carry out most of their activities hanging upside-down from tree branches. To accommodate their topsy-turvy lifestyle, the internal placement of organs like the heart, liver, and spleen is different from what is usually seen in mammals. Even their hair grows in the opposite direction, curving from stomach to back, probably so that rainwater can flow away from their bodies. Each strand of hair has a groove where algae collects. This gives the sloths an overall greenish hue that camouflages them from predators.
Together, we protect wildlife
Protecting their homes
The Amazon rainforest is the only place in the world where the two-toed sloths are found in the wild. Its destruction means the sloths and other animals of the forest will be impacted. Several organisations are currently working to keep tracts of rainforest safe from logging and other human activities. Fortunately, two-toed sloths live in a number of these protected areas. You, too, can do your part to protect animals like the sloth by making a conscious choice as a consumer to only buy forest-friendly products.
The IUCN Status
LC
Least Concern
At relatively low risk of extinction
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.
DD
Data Deficient
Unknown risk of extinction
LC
Least Concern
At relatively low risk of extinction
NT
Near Threatened
Likely to become vulnerable in the near future
VU
Vulnerable
At high risk of extinction in the wild
EN
Endangered
At very high risk of extinction in the wild
CR
Critically Endangered
At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
EW
Extinct in the Wild
Survives only in captivity
EX
Extinct
No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity
Adopt an Animal
Bunny
Two-Toed Sloth
The elusive Bunny loves to snooze and play hide-&-seek in the Fragile Forest.
Once in a while, he chooses a new hiding spot that sends his keepers in a tizzy to find him.
As a millennial sloth, he is savvy with social media and has his own Instagram account (Follow @bunnythesloth)!
