Hoffmann's two-toed sloth

At the Detroit Zoo
Homer was born in 1992 and arrived at the Detroit Zoo in 2000. He is a favorite of many Zoo visitors, although he can be tricky to spot as he spends much of his time napping in his tree. Homer's right at home in the rainforest-like Immersion Gallery at the   National Amphibian Conservation Center. According to the animal care staff most familiar with him, Homer can be quite picky when it comes to his not-so-favorite fare. He sorts through his food bowl, tossing unwanted items onto the floor. Of course, this behavior is perfectly fine with his neighbor Charo, a Central American agouti, who happily snacks on his leftovers.

Description
The sloth has shaggy, grayish-brown fur that grows from the abdomen to the back; this allows rain water to repel from its coat.  It has two long nails that curve at the tip on its front feet and three on its hind feet.

Scientific name: Choloepus hoffmanni
Continent: Central and South America
Habitat: The sloth lives in the humid and warm climates of tropical forests and cloud forests, preferring to live in trees with interlacing crowns that allow for lateral movement without descending to the ground.
Size: 21-29 inches
Weight: 10-20 pounds
Diet: As an herbivore, the sloth feeds mostly on leaves, twigs and fruits.
Reproduction: Gestation 11.5 months; one or two offspring
Lifespan: 15 years
Conservation Status: Least Concern

FUN FACTS

Sloths like to take their time and move slowly. Since they are in no rush to get anywhere and sleep during the day, they are extremely difficult to notice.

Sloths are good swimmers and take advantage of relocating when the forest floor floods.

Since sloths have low metabolisms and take a while to fully digest food, they only have to “go” about once a week.