Where does the brown-throated sloth live?
The brown-throated sloth lives in the forests of Central and South America, in countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. It once lived in Argentina, but is now believed to be extinct there. It is the most widespread and common of the three-toed sloths. It is found in many environments: temperate evergreen forests, dry forests, and even highly disturbed natural areas.
What does the brown-throated sloth eat?
It is a solitary animal that feeds on the leaves of many tree species. Like many herbivorous mammals, it has a multi-chambered stomach containing microorganisms that help digest the cellulose of its plant diet. It has long forelimbs, with three long, curved claws on each foot, 7 to 8 cm on the fore feet. Its tail is short. Its neck can rotate up to 270 degrees. The female gives a shrill scream during the mating season.
Is the brown-throated sloth endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It is the most widespread and common of the three-toed sloths. Males and females are 42 to 80 cm long, and weigh 2.25 to 6.3 kg, with no significant size difference between the sexes.
