Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth

NAME:

Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth

ZOO NAME:

Cocoa

CLASS:

Mammalia

ORDER:

Pilosa

GENUS:

Choloepus

SPECIES:

C. hoffmanni

LENGTH:

18-24″

WEIGHT:

8-25 lbs

LIFESPAN:

Up to 40 years(captivity); 12-20 years(wild)

DIET:

Herbivorous: Variety of leaves, flowers, shoots, twigs & fruit; water obtained from leaves and dew

RANGE

Central and South America: Nicaragua to Peru and Central Brazil

HABITAT

Tropical Forests

CHARACTERISTICS

Hoffman’s Two-Toed Sloths are dark brown to pale yellow in color with long guard hairs and short underfur. These sloths move so slowly that blue-green algae may grow on their fur coloring the fur green. Their fur naturaly parts on the ventral belly surface rather than their backs. They have two digits(toes)on their front feet and three digits on their back feet, all with long hook like claws that allow them to hang onto tree branches. .

BEHAVIOR

Arboreal and nocturnal, Hoffman’s Two-Toed Sloths usually only move to the ground to defecate and spend most of their time hanging upside down in the trees. The females may be found solitary or in small groups while the males are generally solitary.

REPRODUCTION

Gestation is 7 to 12 months resulting in one young weighing about 12 ounces. Young sloths cling to their mom’s belly and may accompany their moms for up to 2 years. Females become sexually mature at approximately 3.5 years and males become sexually mature around 4 to 5 years.

ANIMAL FUN FACT!

Hoffman’s Two-Toed Sloths are better at swimming than walking on the ground.