Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo - Animal Fact Sheet


TWO-TOED SLOTH
Range:	Native to central and South America.
Habitat:	Found primarily in rainforests
Diet:	Leaves, young shoots, blossoms and fruits
Status:	Hunted for meat, pelt and claws, but considered low risk for extinction.
Approx. Dimensions of Adult:	Weight: up to 20 lbs. Height: up to 2 feet
Lifespan:	Captive sloths have been known to live up to 40 years
Reproduction:	Sexual maturity at 2-3 years. Babies are born fully furred, eyes open and with all teeth. Leaves the mother at around 9 months.
Related to the armadillo and the anteater. Almost entirely arboreal except to come to the ground to defecate, urinate and change trees. Only pass urine and stool once every 3-8 days and can loose up to 30% body weight at elimination. If forced to the ground, however, must crawl because it lacks the arm strength to support its body. They are good swimmers and are nocturnal; they spend 15 hours a day sleeping. The sloth's natural enemies are snakes and birds of prey.