FaunaHub

Sloth

MammalArborealWild

A brown-throated three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) hanging in a tree.

Brown-throated three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus).

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Sloths are slow-moving, tree-dwelling mammals of Central and South America, famous for their deliberate movements and upside-down hanging posture. There are six living species in two groups — two-toed and three-toed sloths. This page is a group-level overview; the brown-throated three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) is used as a reference. Sloths are related to anteaters and armadillos.

Habitat & Range

Sloths live in tropical forests of Central and South America, spending almost their entire lives in the trees, where they feed, rest, and even sleep suspended from branches. Their slow lifestyle suits a low-energy, leaf-based diet. Different species occupy different forest regions; habitat and range vary by species.

Diet

Three-toed sloths are largely leaf-eaters (folivores), with a slow metabolism and a multi-chambered stomach to process tough vegetation; two-toed sloths have somewhat broader diets. Their slow digestion is part of why they move so little. This page describes general feeding ecology, not care or feeding instructions.

Behavior

Sloths are famously slow, an adaptation that conserves energy on a low-nutrient diet and helps them avoid notice by predators. They sleep for much of the day, move carefully through the canopy, and descend to the ground only occasionally, including to defecate. Their fur often hosts algae, adding camouflage. Surprisingly, sloths are capable swimmers. Behaviour varies between the two-toed and three-toed groups.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Sloths are wild animals, not pets — they are easily stressed, have specialised needs, and the wildlife trade and tourism handling can harm them. They are also affected by deforestation and habitat loss. Some sloth species are common while others are threatened; conservation status varies by species and should be checked against current sources. This page is educational, not care or veterinary advice, and does not encourage handling or keeping sloths.

Appearance & Recognition

Sloths have rounded heads, small eyes, long limbs with strong, curved claws for hanging, and coarse fur that often appears greenish from algae. Three-toed sloths have three claws on each limb and a short tail, with a facial pattern that can look like a gentle smile; two-toed sloths have two claws on the forelimbs and a different face shape. Their hanging posture and slow movement are unmistakable.

Similar Animals

Sloths belong to the same broad group (Xenarthra) as the armadillo covered separately on FaunaHub, and as anteaters. Despite a superficial resemblance to primates in their tree-hanging habits, they are not related to monkeys or apes.

More photos of the sloth

A three-toed sloth clinging to a branch in Costa Rica.

A three-toed sloth in the wild, Costa Rica.

Image: Ken-ichi Ueda, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Sloth

Why are sloths so slow?
Sloths move slowly as an adaptation to a low-energy, leaf-based diet and slow digestion, which means they must conserve energy. Their slowness also helps them avoid the notice of predators that hunt by detecting movement.
Do sloths make good pets?
No. Sloths are wild animals that are easily stressed and have specialised needs, and handling and the wildlife trade can harm them. This page is educational, not care advice; sloths should be seen in the wild or at accredited facilities, not kept as pets.
How many kinds of sloth are there?
There are six living species, divided into two groups — two-toed sloths and three-toed sloths — which differ in anatomy and some behaviour. This page is a group-level overview using the brown-throated three-toed sloth as a reference.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.