Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth - Choloepus hoffmanni

Habitat:
It is an arboreal animal, found in mature and secondary rainforests and deciduous forests.
Range:
Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth is found in the rainforest canopy in Central and South America, from Nicaragua south to Bolivia, and from Peru east to Brazil.
Activity Cycle:
Nocturnal
Features:
Brown shaggy fur with two giant claws on each foot.
Size:
8-20 lbs and about 2 ft in length.
Social Structure:
Female sloths may live in groups, while male sloths are usually solitary.
Life Expectancy:
12-20 years
Diet:
Though two-toed sloths may occasionally eat fruits and flowers, nearly all of their diet is composed of tree leaves.
Reproduction:
A single offspring is born after a five or six month gestation period. In the first month of ifs life the young sloth remains firmly attached to its mother, hidden in her coat. At 5 months of age it is almost completely independent, but does not reach full maturity for almost two more years. Females reach sexual maturity at 3 ½ years of age whereas males reach it at 4-5 years.
Status:
Of little concern according to the IUCN Red List and are in Appendix III of Cites with Costa Rica. They are also part of an AZA Species Survival Plan.
Interesting Facts:
  • The name “sloth” means “lazy,” but the slow movements of this animal are actually an adaptation for surviving on a low-energy diet of leaves.
  • Defecate only once every 5 days! They come down to the ground 1 x a week to defecate and urinate.
  • Sloths have very poor eyesight and hearing, and rely almost entirely on their senses of touch and smell to find food.
  • Hang upside down almost all the time!
  • Sloths spend nearly their entire lives in an upside down position, eating, sleeping, mating and giving birth all that way.
  • Hair has grooves to allow algal growth. Algae helps them camouflage and nutrients can be ingested by licking or absorption through the skin.
  • 2 toed sloth’s have 6 vertebrae and 3 toed sloth’s have 9 vertebrae.
 
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AZA cooperatively manages this species as a Species Survival Plan® Program.
Peoria Zoo

Peoria Zoo