Page 154 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

154 ATLAS OF THE WORLD’S STRANGEST ANIMALS

Three-toed Sloth

These famous somnambulists spend an average of 10 hours a day snoozing,

which has earned them the nickname bicho-preguiça (lazy animal).When they
do wake up, they spend so much time simply hanging around that their bodies
are adapted to a life spent upside-down!

Key Facts ORDER Edentata / FAMILY Bradypodidae /
GENUS & SPECIES Bradypus genus

Weight 3.5–4.5kg (7.7–9.9Ib)
Length 56–60cm (22–23.6in)
Tail: 6–7cm (2.4–2.5 in)
Sexual maturity 3–4 years, but depends on species
Breeding season March–April, but depends on species

Number of young 1
Gestation period 6 months
Breeding interval 1–2 years, but depends on species

Typical diet Leaves and buds
Lifespan Up to 12 years in the wild;
20 in captivity

(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.