What is the lifespan of a sloth?


Quick Answer

The two-toed sloth has a median lifespan of around 15 years. Although male sloths mature more slowly than females, most sloths reach adulthood by 5 years old.

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What is the lifespan of a sloth?
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Full Answer

Sloths spend most of their lifespan sleeping up to 18 hours per day. This is a slow-moving species that is mostly active at night. Its metabolism is also slow, which helps sloths survive bad injuries. Sloth gestation can stretch up to 10 months, after which a single baby is born. Babies stay with their mothers for up to two years before becoming completely independent. Once they no longer depend on their mothers, sloths lead mostly solitary lives.

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