Although commonly referred to as two-toed sloths, this description is somewhat misleading as all sloths have three toes on the hind-limb. The true difference in digits lies in the forelimb, with sloths in the Choloepus genus having two fingers. For this reason, the correct terminology should be two-fingered sloth, a term which has now been recognised in several scientific publications.
Two-fingered sloths are much larger than their three-fingered counterparts, reaching 80 cm in length and weighing up to 11 Kg (although the average is 6-8 Kg). They have a long, pig-like snout and can sweat from the very tip of their nose when hot or stressed. Their hands and feet have fleshy, hairless palms and soles. They have long, brown hair which is lighter in colouration around the face and can stand on end when threatened, helping to make the sloth appear larger. Two-fingered sloths are more active and generally faster-moving that the three-fingered sloths. Their activity was considered to be primarily nocturnal, although recent evidence suggests that activity spans the 24 hour period equally.
Photographer: Dave Saunders