Linné’s two-toed sloth
Choloepus didactylus
- IUCN StatusLeast Concern
- PopulationUnknown
- DietMainly plants—leaves, twigs, buds, fruit. Occassionally small mammals (rodents) and insects.
- GroupAdults typically solitary, unless with mates or young. Females may feed in same tree.
- Size54-88 cm in length
- ContinentSouth America
- Lifespan30 - 40 years
- Weight4-11kg
- HabitatTropical and cloud forests with tree crowns connected for tree-to-tree movement
- Scientific NameCholoepus didactylus
Meet the Linné’s two-toed sloth
We welcomed two sloths to Wolds Wildlife Park in March 2026
Talita – Female – born 2011
Tiago – Male – born 2011
Sloths live their life upside down, their bodies and behaviours adapted to their tropical, tree-dwelling (arboreal) lifestyle.
Found in the canopy of tropical rainforests across Central and South America. Their range spans from Nicaragua in Central America down to South America, inhabiting countries including Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and the Guianas.
These slow moving, energy-saving mammals have long front and hind limbs that are almost equal in length, and are covered in wiry pale brown fur, apart from their face. This fur can sometimes be tinged with green due to the algae growing in it. Each hair has a specialized groove along it which may encourage the growth of the algae in their fur. This is thought to help with their camouflage and perhaps also nutrition as they may eat the algae or may absorb nutrients from it through their skin. Several different species of invertebrates and fungi, as well as the algae, can be found living within or on the long hair of sloth.
Since sloths spend a lot of their time upside-down, hanging below branches. They have high blood pressure to keep the limbs supplied with blood, as their heart is positioned below their limbs when they are upside-down. They tend to move slowly with an effortless hand-over-hand motion, although they can move quickly too. They don’t usually spend more than one day in the same tree, and are generally nocturnal, moving around more overnight. Sloths are also good swimmers.
Linné’s two-toed sloth are the largest of the 6 sloth species, which are separated out into 2 families of either two-toed (2 species) or three-toed species (4 species). However, the so called two-toed species, the Hoffmann’s and the Linné’s two-toed sloth, actually have three digits or ‘toes’ on their hind limbs. It is the front limbs that only have 2 digits.
Primarily herbivores (specifically folivores) two-toed sloths eat leaves, tender twigs, flowers, fruits, nuts and berries and sometimes small insects or eggs.
The largest threat to sloths is habitat loss and fragmentation., primarily driven by human activity.
Introducing....
Linné’s two-toed sloth at Wolds Wildlife Park
Did you know?
Here are just some of the many things to know about Linné’s two-toed sloth
How often do they come down from the trees?
Linné’s two-toed sloths come down to the forest floor only about once a week, primarily to defecate and urinate. Because they are incredibly vulnerable to predators while on the ground, they hurry back up to the canopy as soon as they are finished.
Can Linné’s two-toed sloths swim?
Yes, surprisingly well! While they are clumsy and awkward on the ground due to their long arms and weak hind legs, they are efficient swimmers. If they fall out of a tree into a river or get caught in a rainforest flood, they can use a doggy-paddle motion to move quite quickly through the water.
Are they aggressive or dangerous?
Generally, they are docile and prefer to remain unnoticed. However, if they feel cornered or threatened, they can defend themselves fiercely. Linné’s two-toed sloths have incredibly strong grip strength, long sharp claws, and self-sharpening canine-like teeth that can inflict a nasty bite.
Where do they live in the wild?
They are native to the tropical rainforests of northern South America. You can find them in countries like Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and northern Brazil. They spend nearly 100% of their lives high up in the forest canopy.
What is their conservation status?
Currently, Linné’s two-toed sloths are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Their populations are relatively stable compared to other rainforest animals, though they still face growing threats from habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and the illegal pet trade.
Why do they move so slowly?
Their slowness is a deliberate evolutionary survival strategy, not laziness.
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Low-energy diet: They primarily eat tough, fibrous leaves which provide very little caloric energy and take up to a month to fully digest.
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Metabolism: They have one of the lowest metabolic rates of any mammal.
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Camouflage: Moving slowly prevents predators—like harpy eagles, jaguars, and large snakes—from spotting them in the rainforest canopy.
How can you tell a Linné’s two-toed sloth apart from a three-toed sloth?
While it seems obvious, the easiest giveaway is actually on their front limbs.
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The claws: Linné’s two-toed sloths have two claws on their front feet (and three on their back feet), whereas three-toed sloths have three claws on all four limbs.
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The appearance: Two-toed sloths are generally larger, have longer fur, a more prominent pig-like snout, and lack the dark "mask" facial markings commonly seen on three-toed sloths. They also lack a tail entirely, or have only a tiny vestigial one.
