# Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth (*Choloepus didactylus*) Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth is a slow-moving animal that loves to hang upside down in trees. They have long arms and a cozy, furry body that helps them stay safe in the rainforest. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Sloth ![Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426881/objects/2280.jpg) ## Appearance The Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth has shaggy, coarse brown-grey fur, often with a greenish tint from algae, and a distinctive dark eye mask. Its two long, powerful claws on each front foot make it easily identifiable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Pilosa - **Family:** Megalonychidae - **Genus:** Choloepus ## Interesting facts - A sloth's fur grows in the opposite direction, pointing from belly to back! - Sloths only leave their tree canopy to go to the bathroom about once a week! - Their body temperature can change, making them feel warm or cool like a plant! - They have extra neck vertebrae allowing their head to turn almost 270 degrees! ## Special abilities - **Upside-Down Master:** Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth can hang upside down for 90% of its life because of special ankle joints and strong claws that allow an unbreakable grip. - **Metabolism Maestro:** Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth has an incredibly slow metabolism that helps it conserve energy, making the most of its leafy diet. - **Algae Camouflage:** Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth has fur that hosts green algae, which helps them blend into the leafy rainforest canopy. - **Swim Surprise:** Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth can swim surprisingly well because of powerful arm strokes that propel them through water. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-70 cm - **Weight:** 4-8 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 1.5 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 300-360 days ## Diet & Feeding This slow-moving mammal munches mainly on leaves, buds, and fruits found high in the trees. - **Primary Foods:** leaves, buds, fruit, flowers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Jaguar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jaguar) (*Panthera onca*) — A top predator of the rainforest canopy. - **Eaten by:** [Harpy Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harpy-eagle) (*Harpia harpyja*) — Powerful bird of prey snatching sloths from trees. - **Symbiotic with:** Sloth Moth (*Cryptoses choloepi*) — Moth lives in sloth fur, laying eggs in dung. - **Symbiotic with:** Sloth Algae (*Trichophilus welckeri*) — Provides camouflage for the sloth in the canopy. ## 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. - [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover. - [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 Always watch from a distance and don't try to touch wild animals like sloths. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Linnaeus's Two-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 Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth? 50-70 cm ### How much does Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth weigh? 4-8 kg ### How long does Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth move? 1.5 km/h ### What does Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth eat? This slow-moving mammal munches mainly on leaves, buds, and fruits found high in the trees. ### Where is Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth usually found? Forests ### How does Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Abilene Zoological Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abilene-zoological-gardens) — Texas, US · Zoo - [African Safari Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/african-safari-wildlife-park) — Ohio, US · Zoo - [Brevard Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brevard-zoo) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Buffalo Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buffalo-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Lupa Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lupa-zoo) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo - [Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesker-park-zoo-and-botanic-garden) — Indiana, US · Zoo [View all places to see Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/linnaeus-s-two-toed-sloth) ## Watch - [Play video: Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth](https://www.snappit.app/videos/linnaeus-s-two-toed-sloth) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=XY5p8Ri58qY) ## 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: [Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/linnaeus-s-two-toed-sloth)