Linné’s Two-toed Sloth
Taxonomy
■ Phylum: Chordata – chordates
■ Class: Mammalia – mammals
■ Order: Pilosa – sloths and anteaters
■ Family: Megalonychidae – two-toed sloths
■ Species: Choloepus didactylus – Linné’s Two-toed Sloth, or Unau
Conservation
Distribution and habitat
Ranges through Venezuela and the Guianas into Brazil and west into the upper Amazon Basin of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Its southern limit in the western Amazon of Brazil is unclear.
Two toed sloths mostly inhabit tropical forests.
Adaptions
Sloths are 50 to almost 90 centimetres long and can weigh between 4 and 11 kilograms. They spend almost all of their lives in trees, where they feed and stay safe from predators. However, at least once a week, they must descend to the ground to relieve themselves—to poop and pee. If you’re observant and lucky, you might spot a sloth’s tiny tail as it moves through the branches!
To live in trees, sloths are surprisingly strong—it’s almost impossible to remove one from a branch! They have unusual limbs with long, curved claws. The two-toed sloth gets its name from its front limbs, so not toes, which have only two fingers, while the hind limbs have three.
To avoid getting soaked during the rainy season, sloth fur grows in the opposite direction compared to most mammals—it parts on the belly and grows toward the back. Their coarse hair is a home for algae and even several species of moths that exist nowhere else in the world!
Sloths are also among the rare animals that are monochromatic—they cannot see any colours at all.
Diet
Sloths live high up in the trees, and their slow movements combined with their camouflaging fur make them very difficult to observe. As a result, there is very little information about their feeding habits in the wild. Most of their diet consists of various tree leaves, flowers, small branches, and fruits. Some scientists believe that sloths also feed on the algae growing in their fur, while others disagree.
Sloths lack enamel, which is why their teeth often become stained from the leaves they eat. Unlike humans, sloths don’t have to worry much about toothaches—their teeth grow continuously throughout their lives. While sloths are famous for their lazy, slow-paced lifestyle, they aren’t afraid to use their powerful claws and surprisingly sharp teeth when faced with danger!
Breeding
Females are ready to mate when they reach 3 years of age, while males mate at over 4 years old. Finding a mate in the dense tropical forest is not easy, but female two-toed sloths have found a solution—they loudly squeal and leave scent markings on tree trunks. Once a male has located a female, he stays with her for several days to keep other males away. If several males meet at the same female, they fight, trying to knock each other off the tree.
The gestation period for sloths lasts 10 to 12 months. Females typically give birth every other year, and almost always to a single baby. Births also occur while hanging from branches. The female cares for the baby for 3 to 12 months, carrying it on her belly or back. During this time, the baby learns the essential sloth lesson—what is and isn’t edible.
Conservation and threats
Apart from habitat loss due to deforestation, sloths are also threatened by poaching. Social media can have a negative impact on the population by increasing demand for sloths and other exotic wild animals to be kept as pets. Before acquiring an exotic pet, always make sure to check its origin and ensure that you can provide it with everything it needs!
References:
https://www.eaza.net/eep-pages
https://slothconservation.org/sloth-o-pedia/
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