Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth

This two-toed sloth was spotted high up in the trees on the Semaphore Road near the Canal.  Sloths weigh in at about 15 pounds and are about 2 feet in length.  All sloths actually have 3 toes, but two-toed sloths only have 2 fingers.  This animal spends most of its time hanging in the trees, though they may move to the ground to change trees.  They are strictly nocturnal, moving slowly through the canopy eating leaves. The slow movements of the sloth are an adaptive measure for survival on a low-energy diet of leaves.  Their metabolic rate is half that of a different mammal of the same size.  Also, their body temperature is much lower than expected and even lower while at rest.  While on the ground, their speed is from .5 to 1 foot per minute with a maximum rate of 5 feet per minute.  Moving at this rate, they do not attract much attention.  Webster’s Dictionary defines sloth as laziness; but the Two-toed sloth is not lazy, it is just slow.  With poor eyesight and hearing, they rely almost solely on their sense of touch and smell to find food.  It may take a sloth up to a month to digest a meal and explains why they only are seen on the ground once every 5 days to urinate or defecate.

Sloths hang from high branches by their huge claws most of the time, including during mating, sleeping, and giving birth.  This location keeps them out of harm’s way from many of their predators.  Their long, coarse, algae-coated fur actually flows from the belly to the top (unlike other mammals) so that when it rains, the water will flow off the fur more easily.  Sloths have even been found hanging from trees after death.