Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth
Choloepus didactylus
Silhouette: Kai Caspar · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderPilosa (Sloths and Anteaters)
- FamilyMegalonychidae (Two-toed Ground Sloths)
- GenusCholoepus (Two-Toed Sloths)
- SpeciesCholoepus didactylus (Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth)
About the Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth
Linnaeus's two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus), also known as the southern two-toed sloth, unau, or Linne's two-toed sloth is a species of sloth from South America, found in Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil north of the Amazon River. There is now evidence suggesting the species' range expands into Bolivia. It's the largest extant sloth species.
Males and females are the same size, growing to lengths of approximately 53 to 89 cm (21 to 35 in), not including the length of the tail, and weigh approximately 4 to 11 kg (9 to 24 lb). Their fur color ranges from a brownish yellow to a pale tone of brown, however, in the wild their fur sometimes has a green hue from algae that grows on their fur during the rainy season. Their belly fur is slightly lighter in color than the body and they have no undercoat. The belly hair is parted along the midline and flows towards the animals back (spine), the opposite direction that fur flows on most other mammals. Young sloths tend to have softer and darker fur than adults.
Sloths belong to the order Pilosa, which also includes anteaters. They belong to the super order Xenarthra... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth in Yasuní National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Yasuní National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 2 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Anavilhanas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 4 | Brownsberg Nature Park | 🇸🇷 Suriname | |
| 5 | Sierra de la Macarena National Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 6 | Amacayacu National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth in Yasuní National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth sighting in Yasuní National Park, based on 24 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth in Yasuní National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth in Yasuní National Park in our monthly data.