One of my favorite animals in Panama is the sloth. There are about six species of sloths in the world, but one of the most common in Panama is the two-toed sloth. In Spanish, sloth is “perezoso,” which literally translates to “lazy” because they are so slow. They aren't just found in Panama, but all over Central and South America.
The Hoffman’s two-toed sloth (scientific name: Choloepus hoffmanni) have two claws on their front two limbs. The adults are usually around two feet long and can weight between 9 and 18 pounds. Their sharp claws are usually about four inches long. They have round-flattish faces but their noses stick out in a cone shape and they always look like they are smiling. Sloths have long, thick, shaggy, light brown hair and a darker face. They look a bit like monkeys but are more closely related to anteaters. Sometimes, in the rainy season, their fur can take on a greenish color. Why do you think that is? Well, sloths are so slow-moving that they can grow algae!
