Also known as the "Ai", the Three-toed Sloth inhabits tropical rainforests from Southern Central America to northeastern Argentina. This is one of the slowest moving animals on earth, moving at only 13 feet a minute, at it's fastest. One would think that the lack of speed would be a disadvantage, when actually it poses no problem to the animal; it is well camoflagued from any predators that may be looking for an easy meal. Three-toed Sloth's have long rough hair which curves in the opposite direction that most other mammals. The hair is also covered in a coat of blue-green algae which adds to its camoflague. The predators of the sloth include large snakes, harpy eagles, jaguars, ocelots, and people.

On the ground the three-toed sloth pulls it's body along since it can't walk on it's feet. Amazingly, though, it is an excellent swimmer. The sloth spends most of its time upside-down where it sleeps, eats, and mates. They sleep about 15 hours a day, though they may be active during both day and night. Three-toed Sloths only feed on the leaves and buds of trees in the Cecropia genus. It doesn't drink, but it does receive water from the juicy leaves and licking dew drops.

The gestation period for the Three-toed Sloth is 6 months. After the baby is born it clings to it's mother (as is shown in the above picture) until it is several months old. Adult sloths are solitary creatures and their maximum life span is between 30-40 years. The Three-toed Sloth is currently NOT endangered, though it is so specialized for dwelling in trees that it is seriously handicapped if it is removed from the forest canopy. And with the rapid destruction of the rainforest due to the activities of mining and lumber companies, and slash & burn farmers, this species will certainly be effected. Unfortuneatly, do to it's peculiar diet on Cecropia leaves this species of sloth does not do well in captivity.

Back