Two-toed Sloth Choloepus didactylus

The Two-toed Sloth, also called Linnaeus's and the Southern Two-toed Sloth to distinguish it from Hoffmann's, is native to the Amazon Basin and north to Colombia, Venezuela and the Guianas. It spends most of its time hanging around in trees and sleeps much of the day as it is mostly nocturnal.

Its mainly vegetarian diet does not provide it much energy. It can swim well, however, using its strong back legs for propulsion.

Although called the Two-toed Sloth, it's front limbs have two toes (hooked claws) on each and the back limbs have three like all other Sloths (the smaller, unrelated Three-toed Sloths).

Their long hair grows in the opposite direction to most mammals so that it hangs downwards when they are, as usually, upside down. Male and female have a similar appearance.

Sloth mother with baby.