Name |
Linne’s two-toe sloth Choloepus didactylus
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APPROXIMATE SIZE
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body length: 53 - 74 cm (1.75 - 2.4 ft) tail: absent
weight:. 4-8 kg (8.8-17.6 lbs.)
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distinguishing features
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l
ong, coarse, wavy hair; tan-brown in captivity. Hair curves from the stomack to the back (opposite of most mammals).
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Teeth are small, simple molars that continuously grow.
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long claws
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short neck with 4 long limbs of equal length, rudimentary ears, and large eyes
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BEHAVIOR
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solitary in wild but groups of females will sometimes occupy the same tree.
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hisses in defense and bears teeth
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will also let out low cries or moans if distressed
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hangs upside down most of their life (even when sleeping, eating, mating or giving birth).
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arboreal; comes to ground to defecate or to change trees
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nocturnal, sleeping of 15 hours and awake only to feed.
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defends itself by biting and slashing claws, but primarily relies on camouflage for protection.
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habitat
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Stay high in the tropical forest canopies, and maintaining a range of 10-acres.
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geographic locale
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Central America an northern South America, including Brazil and Peru.
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reproduction
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gestation: 279 days average
birth: 1 offspring each year
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14-16 month interbirth period
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young are altricial (dependent upon parental care for survival)
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babies will cling to their mother’s belly for 5 weeks until they have the strength to move on their own.
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life cycle
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life span: wild: 20 years
captivity: 30 to 40 years
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diet
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wild: berries, leaves, tender twigs, fruits. On occasion been known to eat insects and other small prey.
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zoo: canned primate diet, yam, fruit, vegetable (cut into french fry-shaped pieces so they can grab the food), egg
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ADAPTATIONS
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CONSERVATION/ STATUS
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IUCN redlist as Least Concern
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US Federal List as Threatened
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CITES no special status
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Threathen by habitat destruction due to logging and hunting for meat
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CLASSIFICATION
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Class: Mammalia Order: Pilosa Family: Megalonychidae
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| -
The super order Xenarthra (meaning “without teeth). Animals in this super oder all lack incisors, canine and premolars.
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The super order Xenarthra, is broken into 2 Orders: Cingulata (includes armadillos) and Pilosa (includes sloths and antearters).
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The earliest xenarthrans were arboreal herbivores with simple teeth, small brains, and sturdy spines.
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also called the two-toed sloth
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one other species in genus; there are three species of three-toed sloths
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used to be placed in the same family as the extinct giant ground sloths
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MISCELLANEOUS Information
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body temperature ranges from (78-98)
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predators include eagles, jaguars, people
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Food remains in their short digestive tract for approximately one month.
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Defecates only once a week.
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Good swimmers.
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SANTA ANA ZOO ANIMALS
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M11002 male “Inigo” DOB unk - wild
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Monique Wong 10/11 |