brown-throated three-toed sloth vs Pygmy three-toed sloth

Bradypus variegatus compared with Bradypus pygmaeus

Key Differences

• brown-throated three-toed sloth is Least Concern while Pygmy three-toed sloth is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	brown-throated three-toed sloth	Pygmy three-toed sloth
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order same	Pilosa (Sloths & Anteaters)	Pilosa (Sloths & Anteaters)
Family same	Bradypodidae (Three-toed Sloths)	Bradypodidae (Three-toed Sloths)
Genus same	Bradypus (Three-toed Sloths)	Bradypus (Three-toed Sloths)
Species	Bradypus variegatus	Bradypus pygmaeus

Evolutionary Relationship

brown-throated three-toed sloth and Pygmy three-toed sloth share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Bradypus. (Three-toed Sloths)

Conservation Status

brown-throated three-toed sloth

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

Pygmy three-toed sloth

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	brown-throated three-toed sloth	Pygmy three-toed sloth
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	30 years	—
Average Length	60 cm	—
Average Weight	4.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

brown-throated three-toed sloth

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, forests, and vegetated habitats.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

Pygmy three-toed sloth

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

brown-throated three-toed sloth

One of the world's slowest mammals, brown-throated three-toed sloths hang inverted in the rainforest canopy of Central and South America, moving at an average speed of 0.24 km/h. Their low metabolic rate is a key adaptation to their nutrient-poor leaf diet. Algae growing in their fur provides camouflage and may harbor symbiotic fungi with antimicrobial properties. Moths, beetles, and fungi form a miniature ecosystem within sloth fur.