# Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth (*Bradypus variegatus*) The Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth is a slow-moving animal that loves to hang out in trees. They have long arms and can sleep for up to 20 hours a day, making them one of the sleepiest animals in the world! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bradypus.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stefan Laube ( Tauchgurke ), Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bradypus.jpg) ## Appearance The Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth has shaggy, grey-brown fur with a distinctive dark mask around its eyes and a pale brown throat. Its small, flat face and three long, curved claws on each limb make it visually unique among arboreal mammals. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Pilosa - **Family:** Bradypodidae - **Genus:** Bradypus ## Interesting facts - A sloth's super strong grip lets them stay attached to branches even during powerful storms! - Sloths can survive bites from venomous snakes that would kill most other mammals! - Sloths have more neck bones than a giraffe, allowing them to turn their heads nearly 270 degrees! - Their fur parts along their belly, so rainwater flows off easily when they're hanging upside down! ## Special abilities - **Upside-Down Acrobat:** Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth can hang upside down for hours because of special tendons that lock their claws, saving energy. - **Leafy Gut Power:** Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth has a huge four-chambered stomach that helps them digest tough, low-nutrient leaves slowly. - **Living Camouflage:** Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth has grooved fur that grows algae, giving them a green tint that helps them hide in trees. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-70 cm - **Weight:** 2.5-6 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-30 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 150-180 days ## Diet & Feeding These slow-moving mammals munch on leaves, buds, and twigs high in the trees. - **Primary Foods:** leaves, buds, twigs, flowers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Harpy Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harpy-eagle) (*Harpia harpyja*) — A main predator in its rainforest home. - **Eaten by:** [Jaguar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jaguar) (*Panthera onca*) — These big cats will hunt sloths if they can catch them. - **Symbiotic with:** Sloth Algae (*Trichophilus welckeri*) — Algae grows on fur, providing camouflage and possibly nutrients. - **Symbiotic with:** Sloth Moth (*Cryptoses choloepi*) — Moths live in fur and lay eggs in sloth droppings. - **Depends on:** Trumpet Tree (*Cecropia obtusifolia*) — A favored tree species for food and shelter. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Sloths are gentle and slow, but it's best to watch them from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth? 50-70 cm ### How much does Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth weigh? 2.5-6 kg ### How long does Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth live? 20-30 years ### How fast can Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth eat? These slow-moving mammals munch on leaves, buds, and twigs high in the trees. ### Where is Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth usually found? Forests ### How does Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Dallas World Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dallas-world-aquarium) — Texas, US · Aquarium - [Tijuca National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tijuca-national-park) — BR · Park - [Maceió Municipal Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/maceio-municipal-park) — BR · Park [View all places to see Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/brown-throated-three-toed-sloth) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-throated-three-toed-sloth)