Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth, also known as the southern two-toed sloth, unau, or Linne’s two-toed sloth is a species of sloth from South America, found in Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil north of the Amazon River. There is now evidence suggesting the species’ range expands into Bolivia. It’s the largest extant sloth species.

The sloths are split into 2 families based on toes on the foot, and there is therefore only one other closely related species – the  Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth. Other species in this family include the now extinct ground sloths.

This is a solitary, nocturnal and arboreal animal, found in rainforests. The two-toed sloth falls prey to wild cats such as the ocelot and jaguar as well as large birds of prey such as the harpy and crested eagles. Predation mainly occurs when the sloth descends to the ground in order to defecate or change trees. Anacondas have also been known to hunt sloths. It is able to swim, making it possible to cross rivers and creeks, but maybe also making it more available to a predator like an anaconda.

Two-toed sloths live in ever-wet tropical rainforests that are hot and humid. They tend to live in areas where there is a lot of vine growth so they can easily travel from tree to tree in the canopies of the forests. They mainly eat leaves, though which leaves is harder to work out. Below, you will find a rare video of an interaction between an Ocelot and this sloth species. Below that, you will find a list of any articles on this species, and below that will be a list of any places, or links which might help you see this species in the wild.