Sloth
Bradypus variegatus
- Where
- Central & South America's rainforests
- Habitat
- Tropical rainforest canopy
- Diet
- Leaves, fruits, flowers
- Size
- 2-6 feet long (including tail)
- Lifespan
- 20-30 years in wild
- Conservation
- Critically endangered due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and hunting - only about 2% of historical range remains intact.
Fun Facts
- Sloths move at 0.15 miles per hour - slower than turtles!
- Algae grows in their fur, turning them green
- They hold onto branches with curved claws
Learn More
Slow metabolism means they eat very little
Their fur is home to entire ecosystems of insects and plants
Sloths can hold breath underwater for up to 40 seconds