Major difference between the two-fingered and three-fingered sloths in Costa Rica are;
Two-fingered with 2 fingers and Three-fingered with 3 fingers.
Two-fingered sloths are mainly one color, and often light tan throughout their body with their face being slightly darker. Three-fingered have a darker 'mask' like face as well as a darker brown fur. The males will have an 'eye' on their backs. This is a spot where the color is lighter brown with a dark brown almost black thin oval.
Technically, two-toed sloths should be called two-fingered sloths as they have three toes on their feet, but just two fingers on their hands, while three-toed sloths have three toes and three fingers.
About 12-15 years in the wild and up to 31 years in captivity
Distribution
Honduras and Northern Nicaragua to Bolivia and eastern Brazil
Habitat
Rainforests, mature secondary forests, occasionally in dry forests. Generally in areas with continuous canopy.
Behavior
Nocturnal and solitary spending most of the day hanging high in trees. Slow moving. Coming down to defecate once a week. Can defend itself with large claws and sharp pre-molars.
Weight
Approx. 5-6 kilograms at maturity
Diet
They eat mostly leaves, but flowers, buds, and some fruit have been observed in their diet. They will occasionally eat insects, eggs, or small vertebrates as well. Larger variety in their diet than the Bradypus variegatus (three-toed sloth).
Reproduction
Males will secrete scent onto branches in a way to signal to the females. Females give birth to one offspring at a time, twins are possible but rare. When this happens, often one is abandoned as it is more difficult for the sloth to rear 2 young. Gestation is around 11.5 months.
Threats
Harpy eagles (although their numbers have drastically reduced), pumas, jaguars, ocelots, and other large cats.
At Alturas
In the Sanctuary there are two, Choloepus hoffmanni that came to us as orphaned young. They each have biological or physical issues that deem them unreleasable.
Do you want to help birds fly back into the wild? The final phase of rehabilitation is going into a pre-release area to prepare for freedom. The birds in our care desperately need this for their successful release.
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Coronavirus Update
Considering the ongoing developments of the coronavirus outbreak we have made the difficult decision to close our sanctuary to the public and therefore close our tours until 12th April 2020. We will review this decision as the situation continues to develop, so please continue to check our site and social media pages for updates. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Two-toed Sloth 
