Reproductive System: Life Cycle, Peculiarities, Male vs Female
The gestation period for a three toed lasts for 150 days. Sloths give birth while hanging in the trees. The young ones of sloths are born with claws and wrap themselves around their mother for nine months after their birth. Female sloths, nurture their newborn for six months. After two weeks of birth, the mother introduces a leafy diet to their little ones. After six months the female sloth leaves its little one with the other sloth species. At this time the young one learns to fend for itself and survive the wild environment. If it succeeds then it can live for up to a complete sloth lifespan. The young one's behavior and basic mannerisms are influenced by their mother. Even the eating pattern of the young one is similar to that of their mother. The females and males live together in the same tree, during the breeding time. Female sloths, often live together, while the male sloths are observed dwelling in different trees.
Female sloths reach sexual maturity earlier than the males. The different species of sloths will mature at a different age. Hoffman's two toed males reach maturity at around 5 years of age and females at 4 years. Two toed sloths weigh around 19 lbs and grow up to a height of 29 inches. The average lifespan of a sloth goes up to 20 years, but in captivity, they are known to live up to 30 years.
Sloths mating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3itmYOb-7mQ
Baby sloth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RblRE5WCTlo
Female sloths reach sexual maturity earlier than the males. The different species of sloths will mature at a different age. Hoffman's two toed males reach maturity at around 5 years of age and females at 4 years. Two toed sloths weigh around 19 lbs and grow up to a height of 29 inches. The average lifespan of a sloth goes up to 20 years, but in captivity, they are known to live up to 30 years.
Sloths mating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3itmYOb-7mQ
Baby sloth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RblRE5WCTlo