Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth

Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus didactylus

Silhouette: Kai Caspar · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Yasuní National Park

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

21 Verified sightings at Yasuní National Park From 2019 to 2026
58 In all 2 parks
July Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth

Linnaeus's two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus), 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.

Males and females are the same size, growing to lengths of approximately 53 to 89 cm (21 to 35 in), not including the length of the tail, and weigh approximately 4 to 11 kg (9 to 24 lb). Their fur color ranges from a brownish yellow to a pale tone of brown, however, in the wild their fur sometimes has a green hue from algae that grows on their fur during the rainy season. Their belly fur is slightly lighter in color than the body and they have no undercoat. The belly hair is parted along the midline and flows towards the animals back (spine), the opposite direction that fur flows on most other mammals. Young sloths tend to have softer and darker fur than adults.

Sloths belong to the order Pilosa, which also includes anteaters. They belong to the super order Xenarthra... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~40%
2 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~20%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Manaus 🇧🇷 Brazil
~20%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Everland 🇰🇷 South Korea In captivity
2 SeaWorld Orlando 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
3 Busch Gardens Tampa 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
4 SeaWorld San Diego 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
5 San Diego Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
6 Moscow Zoo 🇷🇺 Russia In captivity
7 National Zoological Park 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
8 ZooParc de Beauval 🇫🇷 France In captivity
9 Leipzig Zoological Garden 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
10 Denver Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
11 Copenhagen Zoo 🇩🇰 Denmark In captivity
12 Natura Artis Magistra 🇳🇱 Netherlands In captivity
13 Dublin Zoo 🇮🇪 Ireland In captivity
14 Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
15 Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
16 The Blue Planet 🇩🇰 Denmark In captivity
17 Paris Zoological Park 🇫🇷 France In captivity
18 Fota Wildlife Park 🇮🇪 Ireland In captivity
19 Walsrode World Bird Park 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
20 Abilene Zoological Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
21 Aquarium du palais de la Porte Dorée 🇫🇷 France In captivity
22 Zoo Miami 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
23 Beijing Wildlife Park 🇨🇳 China In captivity
24 Toronto Zoo 🇨🇦 Canada In captivity
25 Minnesota Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
26 Shanghai Wild Animal Park 🇨🇳 China In captivity
27 Bronx Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
28 Khao Kheow Open Zoo 🇹🇭 Thailand In captivity
29 Kansas City Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
30 Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens 🇯🇵 Japan In captivity
31 Higashiyama Zoo Main Park 🇯🇵 Japan In captivity
32 Higashiyama Zoo North Park 🇯🇵 Japan In captivity
33 Ramat Gan Safari 🇮🇱 Israel In captivity
34 Parc zoologique de Montpellier 🇫🇷 France In captivity
35 Beijing Zoo 🇨🇳 China In captivity
36 Shanghai Zoo 🇨🇳 China In captivity
37 Chester Zoo 🇬🇧 United Kingdom In captivity
38 Banham Zoo 🇬🇧 United Kingdom In captivity
39 Los Angeles Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
40 Dallas Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
41 Phoenix Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
42 Toledo Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
43 Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
44 Silesian Zoological Garden 🇵🇱 Poland In captivity
45 Wildlife World Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
46 São Paulo Zoo 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
47 Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
48 Parco Natura Viva 🇮🇹 Italy In captivity
49 Louisville Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
50 Out of Africa Wildlife Park 🇺🇸 United States In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth in Yasuní National Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth sighting in Yasuní National Park on a given day, based on 21 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 19th most-seen of the 33 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth in Yasuní National Park?

July

In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth in Yasuní National Park on a given day, against under 5% in October, the lowest month.

What time of day is best to see a Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth?

Between 7 and 10 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.

Is Yasuní National Park the best place to see a Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth?

2nd of 2

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth sightings, Yasuní National Park ranks 2nd at about 20%. The best odds are in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Ecuador, about 40%).

Where does the Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth is recorded against all the mammals logged in Yasuní National Park (21 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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