Nature Field Guide
Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth
- Spanish name
- Perezoso de dos dedos
- Scientific name
- Choloepus hoffmanni
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Pico: “Is this the same kind of sloth?”
Tati: “We need more than its color to tell.”
Species overview
About the Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth
Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth is one of Costa Rica’s two sloth species. The name refers to the two claws on each forelimb, not the hind feet. It is an arboreal mammal that spends much of its life hanging or resting among tree branches.
A slow digestive system helps it process plant foods such as tender shoots, flowers and fruit. Its quiet movements can make it difficult to detect even where it occurs. Research in Caribbean cacao farms shows that wooded farmland, living fences and riverside vegetation can help connect forest resources. Preserving those routes is more useful than treating a sloth sighting as an isolated tree encounter.
Identification
Key Features of the Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth
Two long claws on each forelimb.
Long shaggy fur and a prominent rounded snout.
Identify with a guide; color alone is unreliable.
Habitat & range
The studied FINMAC cacao and riverside-forest landscape at Pueblo Nuevo / Villa Francia, Limón.
Local observations
A 13-year research project documents this species at FINMAC. ACG also publishes a record from Estación Biológica Caribe; neither implies unrestricted public access.
When to observe
Observe from authorized routes with a local guide. Activity, weather and food availability change encounters; a documented location is not a promise of a sighting.
Seasonal Calendar
Births across the year
FINMAC cacao landscape, Pueblo Nuevo / Villa Francia
Year-round
Study births were spread across months; none was recorded in August. This is asynchronous reproduction, not an August exclusion rule.
Event source ↗Conservation & care
Keep a respectful distance and leave an open route for the animal. Stay on authorized paths, secure food and rubbish, and observe without feeding, touching, baiting or chasing.
Threats & pressures
Deforestation removes feeding trees and canopy routes. Sloth research emphasizes connected habitat and avoiding removal of wild animals.
Observation activity
Compare illustrated foreclaws of both Costa Rican sloths after the walk. Never reposition a wild sloth to count its claws.
Explore by location
Caribbean · Central Pacific · Northern Plains · Heredia · Limón · Puntarenas · Pueblo Nuevo (Villa Francia)