Two-toed Sloth

The Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth is one of the slowest animals on earth, but also one of the most remarkable. With its long arms, curved claws, and thick fur, it lives high above the ground, hanging from the branches of tropical rainforests. This slow tree climber is mainly active at night and moves with extreme caution between the branches. It gets its name from the two claws on its front legs, which it uses to hold on tightly. Unfortunately, the natural habitat of the two-toed sloth is threatened by deforestation. As a result, more and more pieces of rainforest are disappearing and with them the safe treetops where these animals live. In Novo Mundo—the themed area at Hof van Eckberge where the sloth can be seen—we take you into the life of this unique animal and the threats it faces.

General information Two-toed Sloth

Latin name: Choloepus didactylus

The Two-toed Slothoriginally lives high up in the trees of the rainforest in South America. It has thick, gray or brown fur. Two-toed sloths spend almost their entire lives in trees. They sleep a lot and move slowly to conserve energy. Their strong claws help them to hold on tightly to branches.