The two-toed sloth is a mammal that spends most of its life in the forest canopy. It is often seen hanging upside down from branches. Rain easily drips off its fur, as sloth’s body hair lies from abdomen to back. The sloth’s arms are longer than its legs, which partly explains why it cannot walk or stand like most other mammals. On rare occasions it can be seen swimming. It also goes down to the ground to defecate.

Each forefoot has two toes and each hind foot three. The long, sickle-shaped claws make it easy for the sloth to hang from tree branches. The sloth easily hides from enemies, such as the jaguar, because it is well camouflaged. During the rainy season, the sloth’s fur often takes on a greenish tinge due to the algae growing in its coat. This makes the sloth blend in with the leaves, thereby increasing its chances of not being noticed. The slowness of the sloth also helps to protect it from predators, because slow movements can be difficult to detect. It is immobile for up to 18 hours a day – when it sleeps.