ANIMAL:Hoffmann’s Two-Toed Sloth Choloepus hoffmanni
Type of Animal:
Sloth
Habitat:
Tropical forest from sea level to 10,800 ft above sea level, montane grassland/shrubland
Location(s):
1 population ranges from E Honduras to NW Ecuador, 2nd population in E Peru, far W Brazil, & N Bolivia
Appearance:
Round head, flattened face, round thickened ears, coloration most often grayish-brown but can also be mosaic of tan, blonde, & light brown or even darker gray-brown, coat sometimes has green hue due to algae, 2 toes on fore feet w/ long curved claws, 3 clawed toes on hind feet
Food/Diet:
Leaves, greens, flowers, fruit, shoots, buds, twigs, stems, bark, wood, algae, vegetables, insects, lizards, carrion, eggs, nestlings
Status in Wild:
Stable
Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, wildlife centers, & aquariums
Lifestyle:
Solitary though females sometimes seen in pairs or trios
Additional Info:Called:
Male
Female
Young: Pup
Group: Bed
Weight:
Male: 13 lbs
Female: 15 lbs
Young: 2 lbs
Gestation:
6-11.5 monthsLife Span:
15-20 years in wild, 35-40 years in captivity
Height:
1.75-2.3 ft
Body Length:
1.75-2.3 ft
Tail Length:
0.59-1.18 in
Main predators are raptors, jaguars, ocelots, large snakes, crocodilians, margays, & pumas.
Named after German naturalist Karl Hoffmann.
Most often active at night (nocturnal).
One adaptation to life upside down is hair has part on belly allowing water to run off.
Have very poor eyesight/hearing & rely on smell/touch to find food.
Courtship consists of female licking male’s face & rubbing her genitals against his body.
Though mostly quiet, young will make bleating alarm calls if separated from mom & females scream to attract males.
Sexually mature at 2 years old.
Young stay w/ mom for 8 months to 2 years.
Young take solid food at 2-4 weeks & fully weaned at 9 weeks.
Though stable, habitat loss & wildlife trafficking potential threats.
Fun Fact(s):
Well known to be extremely slow-moving animals, often moving at 0.46 ft/sec.
Can protect themselves by biting/clawing at potential threats.
Only need to urinate/defecate once a week due to extremely slow metabolism.
Have 3-chambered stomach-1st 2 chambers hold symbiotic bacteria helping digest cellulose while 3rd chamber contains digestive glands.
Spend entire lives in trees, only coming down to ground once a week to defecate/urinate or to change trees. Females even give birth upside down. They’re physically incapable of actually walking so they crawl when on ground. Surprisingly, they’re very good swimmers.
Have specialized hair encouraging algae growth, aiding in camouflage.
