Two-toed sloth
Choloepus didactylus
Living upside down
The Linne’s two-toed sloth lives in the canopy layer of tropical forests, where they spend most of their lives hanging upside down from branches.
They are native to most of northern Southern America, including Venezuela, Brazil and Peru.
The family tree
This species of sloth often relies on just one tree to feed it for its whole life. Young sloths inherit this tree from their mothers.
Did you know
A sloth’s metabolism is so slow that it can take a whole month to digest its food!
Quick facts
| Scientific name Choloepus didactylus | Native to South America | Rainforest layer Canopy |
| Diet Plants | Size Maximum length 85cm | Weight 8kg |
| Lifespan 30 years | IUCN conservation status Least concern – learn more | CITES Appendix ii Trade allowed – learn more |
Concerns
Two-toed sloths have a wide geographical range and are rarely hunted (many cultures believe it is bad luck to eat sloth meat). However, they can be hit by cars as they try to cross roads and are sometimes killed by electric power lines that they mistake for branches.