Wildlife Journal Junior!
New Hampshire PBS

Home       |       Wild Files       |       N.H. Animals       |       Animals A-Z       |       Watch Online

Megalonychidae - Two-toed Sloths

 

Classification

 Kingdom: Animalia
 Phylum: Chordata
 Class: Mammalia
 Order: Pilosa
 Family: Megalonychidae

Hoffman's SlothThere are two species in this family. They are found in tropical rainforests in Central and South America.

Two-toed sloths are larger than three-toed sloths. They have round heads, small ears, long forelimbs and hind limbs, and a stumpy tail. Two-toed sloths have two long claws on their front paws and three claws on their rear paws. They have long, grayish-brown fur that takes on a greenish color because of the algae that grows on it. Their fur grows from their stomach and curls around to their back.

Two-toed sloths hang upside down in trees and their backwards growing fur helps rain run off of them. They are herbivores and eat leaves, buds, fruit, and twigs. They are nocturnal and spend most of their time sleeping.

 

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinct Extinct Not Enough Data Not Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.

U.S. Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Endangered in US Endangered in US Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.
  New Hampshire Status Key
Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in NH Endangered in NH Breeds in NH Breeds in NH (birds)
Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North America South America South America New Hampshire Species NH More Info Click for More Info picture Click for Image

  New Hampshire Species

 

 North/Central American Species

None
  Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth - Choloepus hoffmanni Least Concern North America South America image More Info

Other Species Around the World

Southern Two-toed Sloth - Choloepus didactylus Least Concern South America image More Info    

>Additional Information

Key: profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

Two-toed Sloths profile Photos
Sloths are related to anteaters.
Source: San Diego Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Southern Two-toed Sloth - Choloepus didactylus Photos Video Least Concern South America
The southern two-toed sloth is the size of a small dog.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Southern Two-toed Sloth - Choloepus didactylus profile Photos Least Concern South America
The southern Two-toed Sloth. is found in northern Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Southern Two-toed Sloth - Choloepus didactylus profile Photos Least Concern South America
The Southern two-toed sloth is found in tropical rainforest canopies.

Source: National Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth - Choloepus hoffmanni profile Photos Least Concern North America South America
Hoffmann's two-toed sloth lemur is found in Bolivia; Brazil; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; Honduras; Nicaragua; Panama; Peru; Venezuela.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth - Choloepus hoffmanni profile Photos Least Concern North America South America
Hoffmann's two-toed sloth is a good swimmer and will take advantage of the flooded forest floor during the rainy season to swim to a new area.
Source: Philadelphia Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School