Bradypodidae -
Three-toed Sloths |
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 There are four species in this family. They are found in rainforests in Central and South America. Three-toed sloths are about two feet in length and have round heads, short tails, and small ears. They have long, thick, shaggy fur with grooves in it. They have grayish-brown or yellowish-brown fur, but algae gets in the grooves in their fur and makes it look green! Their fur grows from their stomach and curls around to their back.
Three-toed sloths have long arms and legs; their arms are longer than their legs. They have three toes on their front paws and five toes on their rear paws. They have three long, curved claws on each paw.
Three-toed sloths live in trees. They hang upside down and and move very, very slowly. They are herbivores and eat leaves, buds, fruit, and twigs. They are nocturnal and spend most of their time sleeping!
World Status Key
 Least Concern  Near Threatened  Vulnerable  Endangered  Critically Endangered  Extinct in Wild  Extinct  Not Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.
U.S. Status Key
 Threatened in US  Endangered in US  Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile. |
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New Hampshire Status Key
 Threatened in NH  Endangered in NH  Breeds in NH (birds)
Status taken from NH Fish and Game |
Location Key
 Africa  Asia  Australia/Oceania  Europe  North America  South America  NH  Click for More Info  Click for Image
New Hampshire Species |
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North/Central American Species |
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Pygmy Three-toed Sloth - Bradypus pygmaeus 
Brown-throated Sloth - Bradypus variegatus  
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Other Species Around the World |
Maned Three-toed Sloth - Bradypus torquatus  |
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Pale-throated Three-toed Sloth - Bradypus tridactylus
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Additional Information
Key:  Profile  Photos  Video  Audio
Three-toed Sloths
The sloth is the world's slowest mammal.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Brown-throated Sloth - Bradypus variegatus
The brown-throated sloth is the most widely distributed of all the sloths.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Brown-throated Sloth - Bradypus variegatus
The brown-throated sloth is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Brown-throated Sloth - Bradypus variegatus
The brown-throated sloth sleeps up to 18 hours a day.
Source: World Association of Zoos and Aquariums Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Maned Three-toed Sloth - Bradypus torquatus
The maned three-toed sloth is found in fragments of the coastal rainforest in Brazil.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Maned Three-toed Sloth - Bradypus torquatus
The maned three-toed sloth spends almost all of its time in the trees, where it eats leaves, twigs, and buds.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Maned Three-toed Sloth - Bradypus torquatus
The maned three-toed sloth is named after its long mane of black hair, which runs down the back of the neck and over the shoulders.
Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Pale-throated Three-toed Sloth - Bradypus tridactylus
The pale-throated sloth lives high in the forest canopy.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Pale-throated Three-toed Sloth - Bradypus tridactylus
The pale-throated three-toed sloth is found in Brazil,French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Pygmy Three-toed Sloth - Bradypus pygmaeus
The pygmy three-toed sloth is only found in Isla Escudo de Veraguas, an island that is a part of Panama.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Pygmy Three-toed Sloth - Bradypus pygmaeus
The pygmy three-toed sloth was recognized as a distinct species in 2001.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Pygmy Three-toed Sloth - Bradypus pygmaeus
The pygmy three-toed sloth is more laid back than most sloth species and they only east mango leaves.
Source: BBC Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Pygmy Three-toed Sloth - Bradypus pygmaeus
The pygmy three-toed sloth was only recognized as a distinct species in 2001.
Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School |
There are four species in this family. They are found in rainforests in Central and South America. Three-toed sloths are about two feet in length and have round heads, short tails, and small ears. They have long, thick, shaggy fur with grooves in it. They have grayish-brown or yellowish-brown fur, but algae gets in the grooves in their fur and makes it look green! Their fur grows from their stomach and curls around to their back.
