Mammals
Pygmy Three-toed Sloth
Bradypus pygmaeus · also called monk sloth
Hanging in a mangrove on a tiny island off Panama, a pygmy three-toed sloth chews red mangrove leaves, a dwarf sloth found nowhere else on Earth.
Overview
The pygmy three-toed sloth, Bradypus pygmaeus, is a Critically Endangered dwarf sloth found only on Isla Escudo de Veraguas off the Caribbean coast of Panama. Its small size, mangrove home, and swimming ability make it one of the rarest and most unusual sloths.
A sloth on a tiny island
Because the pygmy three-toed sloth lives on a single small island, any threat to its mangroves puts the entire species at risk.
Status
Critically Endangered, with a decreasing population.
Pygmy Three-toed Sloth: common questions
Where does the pygmy three-toed sloth live?
It lives only on Isla Escudo de Veraguas, a small island off the Caribbean coast of Panama.
What does the pygmy three-toed sloth eat?
It feeds mainly on the leaves of red mangrove trees.
Can the pygmy three-toed sloth swim?
Yes, it swims well, using its long arms in a form of breaststroke.
Why is the pygmy three-toed sloth critically endangered?
It lives on a single small island and numbers only a few hundred animals at most, threatened by hunting and loss of mangrove.