The lifecycle of a sloth
An animal’s life cycle differs in the amount of time it takes from conception to the arrival of the infant animal, the gestation stage and the maturation phase. The sloth’s gestation period, as well as the time it takes for the sloth to reach sexual maturity depends on its species. However, for the most part, three-toed sloths and two-toed sloths have similar life cycles.
The life expectancy of a sloth varies among the different types of sloth species, however, on average, most live for about 20 years in the wild, though up to 30 years of age is not unusual. Unfortunately, like many animals, sloths are faced with the problems of human interference in their environment which unnaturally decreases their expected lifespan. Deforestation is a major cause for the loss of their habitat. Also, the constructions of roads through their habitat has led to the deaths of many sloths as they tend to crawl across the roads when they climb down.
In captivity, sloths have been known to live much longer.The oldest known sloth at the time of her death in June 2017, Miss C, a Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth was 43 years old when it was decided to humanely euthanize her due to age related illnesses. She was born at the Adelaide Zoo, South Australia in 1973 and ended up living more than double the normal life expectancy of a sloth in the wild.
The female sloths reach sexual maturity earlier than male sloths, and the different species will mature at a different age as well. The two toed sloth females will usually reach maturity at about 4 years of age whilst the males will reach maturity at about 5 years of age.
Although each sloth species has various lengths for gestation, ranging from four and a half months to 11 and a half months, they all generally give birth to one offspring each year.
Like with most things that a sloth does, the female sloth also gives birth in the tree tops, which would be quite precarious. The mother helps deliver the baby herself, whilst other sloths aid her in cleaning the newborn and ensuring it does not fall. Baby sloths are born with claws and wrap themselves around their mother for nine months after their birth.