Nature ReachA slow traveller among the branches
Look for the sloth among the leaves
Bradypus spp.
A sloth hangs beneath a branch, then reaches slowly towards the next one. The treetops provide both its leafy meals and much of its living space.
Listen in Nature Reach
These are the same real voice recordings children hear in the app.
Among the branches of the Amazon
The sloth on this page represents three-toed sloths in the genus Bradypus, including Amazon species such as the brown-throated sloth. The app’s daytime sloth is presented at genus level rather than identified as one exact species.
Moving slowly to find leaves
Sloths live on high branches, move very slowly and eat leaves. They grip branches with their curved claws as they move through the canopy to feed.
Three things to notice
- Algae can grow in a sloth’s fur, giving parts of the coat a greenish tint.
- Three-toed sloths often come down to the ground to go to the toilet only about once a week.
- Young sloths learn food choices by tasting leaf fragments near their mother’s mouth and eating what she eats.
Food and danger in the treetops
Using the forest canopy
Branches support a sloth as it moves, and the trees provide leaves to eat. Much of its daily life takes place above the forest floor.
Prey for harpy eagles
Harpy eagles hunt sloths in rainforest trees. A life among the branches still includes the risk of being caught by a predator.
Find the sloth in Nature Reach
Open the free rainforest map and look among the branches for the sloth. Listen to its introduction and explore its connections to the canopy and harpy eagle.
Explore the rainforest
Meet another species
Capybara
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
A capybara grazes on the bank, then steps into the water. Food on land and a place to swim are both important parts of its home.
Meet this species
Toucan
Ramphastos ambiguus
A toucan reaches towards a fruit with its large bill. After the meal, some of the fruit’s seeds can travel with the bird to another part of the forest.
Meet this species
Lion
Panthera leo
A lion resting under a tree gives us one glimpse of its day. Later, as daylight fades, the pride may become much more active.
Meet this species
Zebra
Equus quagga
A zebra's coat is covered in stripes, but the pattern is its own. Look beyond the stripes to discover a life spent grazing and moving with other zebras.
Meet this species
Umbrella thorn acacia
Vachellia spp.
Its spreading crown makes a patch of shade on a sunny plain. For animals, this tree can offer somewhere to rest or something to eat.
Meet this species
Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
A warthog may lower itself onto its front legs while feeding. A nearby burrow gives this busy forager somewhere to shelter.
Meet this speciesSources
- Three-toed sloths and learning food choices, Animal Diversity Web
- Brown-throated sloth behaviour and algae, Animal Diversity Web
- Harpy eagles and their prey, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Reviewed by Nature Reach on 17/10/2026.