The family consists of the three-toed sloths, which are all part of a single genus, Bradypus . These arboreal mammals are found exclusively in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. They are famous for their slow metabolism and sedentary lifestyle, spending the vast majority of their lives hanging upside down in the forest canopy. Taxonomy and Species
Bradypodids are distinguished from their two-toed cousins (Megalonychidae) by several physical and behavioral traits: bradypodidae
: Sloths are frequently victims of the "wildlife selfie trade," where they are taken from the wild for tourist interactions—a practice that often leads to their death within months due to extreme stress. The family consists of the three-toed sloths, which
: The most common species, ranging from Honduras down to northern Argentina. : They have three clawed toes on all
: They are highly specialized folivores (leaf-eaters), consuming leaves from only a limited variety of trees.
: They have three clawed toes on all four limbs (two-toed sloths have two on the forelimbs).