Three-toed Sloth
Bradypus tridactylus 
Makushi name: Kuwaran 
Creole name: Sloth 
Size: body=60 cm; weight=6 kg 
Description: Hangs below branch. Striking markings: head mostly yellow with a dark nose and dark crown, body dark grey-brown with irregular offwhite blotches. Forelegs longer than hind legs; feet fully haired to claws, three long claws on each foot. Short stumpy tail. Male has a patch of short orange fur marked with black spots on the middle of its back. Eyeshine very faint, reddish. 
Activity: Nocturnal and diurnal; arboreal, slow-moving. Descends to the ground about once a week to defecate, digging a small hole with the stumpy tail. On the ground it cannot support its own weight and moves by dragging itself along; swims well. 
Habits: Solitary. May sleep hanging below a branch or curled up in the crotch of a tree. It allows its body temperature to fall at night and in the morning moves to an exposed branch to warm up in the sun. It eats leaves from a large variety of tree species, but is often seen in Congo palm. It is usually silent and is easily overlooked, but it can whistle. This species is extremely docile and will not attempt to bite or scratch even when handled. 
Habitat: Mature and secondary forest. 
Signs: Look for a mottled grey ball on or under a branch. 
Status: This species has not been recorded from Iwokrama due to its secretive nature, but it is probably locally common