Fort Wayne Children's Zoo Home

Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus hoffmanni

Quick Facts

Scientific name: Choloepus hoffmanni
Class: Mammal
Weight: 10 to 20 pounds
Conservation status: Least concern
Life span: About 15 years
Number of offspring: One at a time

About

I Live In Central and South America

The Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth is a neotropical species that can be found in grasslands, shrublands, and tropical forests in Central and South America.


I Am An Herbivore

This species is mainly herbivorous, with the occasional feeding on insects. Their primary diet consists of leaves, fruit, and green shoots.


Two-Toed Sloths are Solitary

This species is very solitary, with the exception being during breeding season.


Cool in Camouflage

The two-toed sloth will often take on a greenish tint during the wet season. This tint is algae that collects in the grooves of the sloth’s fur and helps camouflage the sloth from predators.


Helping the Two-toed Sloth in the Wild

The two-toed sloth at the Zoo is enrolled in the Species Survival Plan (SSP). SSP is a program implemented by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to help ensure a genetically viable population exists.


I Am Important To My Ecosystem

The two-toed sloth helps propagate tropical plants through their fruit diet. Many plants germinate only after they have passed through the sloth, the sloth is often critical in the survival of various tropical plants.

Conservation

Learn more about our efforts, our conservation partners around the world, and the simple steps you can take to contribute.

Search