AnAge entry for Choloepus didactylus

Classification (HAGRID: 02657)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Pilosa
                Family: Megalonychidae
                    Genus: Choloepus
Species: Choloepus didactylus
Common name: Southern two-toed sloth
Synonyms: Choloepus hoffmanni florenciae, Bradypus didactylus, Bradypus unau, Bradypus kouri, Bradypus curi, Choloepus guianensis, Choloepus brasiliensis, Choloepus didaetylus, Choloepus florenciae, Choloepus napensis, Choloepus didactylus columbianus

Maximum longevity: 36.8 years (captivity)
Source: ref. 671
Sample size: Medium
Data quality: Acceptable
Observations: This animal has the lowest and most variable body temperature among mammals (24 to 33 degrees C) [0434]. A 36.8 years old female is reported to be still alive at the Smithsonian National Zoo [0609].

No information on metabolism is available.

[0671] Richard Weigl (2005), Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World
[0610] Ernest (2003), Life history characteristics of placental non-volant mammals
[0470] Taube et al. (2001), Reproductive biology and postnatal development in sloths, Bradypus and Choloepus: review with original data from the field (French Guiana) and from captivity
[0434] Ronald Nowak (1999), Walker's Mammals of the World
[0455] Virginia Hayssen et al. (1993), Asdell's Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction: A Compendium of Species-Specific Data
[0542] Bernhard Grzimek (1990), Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals
[0731] Zullinger et al. (1984), Fitting sigmoid equations to mammalian growth curves
[0609] National Zoo