The “Tooth” About Sloths

Sloths are best known for their slowmotion approach to life. Spending most of their lives up in the canopy, they tend to take it easy, perusing through foliage as they eat, sleep, and even give birth. While their special adaptations give them an advantage in the branches, it also means they have very few built-in defenses to avoid predators. Lacking speed and size, this need for protection is met in an unexpected way — very pointy teeth.

Hidden behind an adorable and unassuming face are a pair of impressive, fang-like teeth. Almost three inches long and sharpened to a fine point, a sloth’s canine teeth pack quite a punch. When threatened, these sharp fangs allow them to create significant puncture wounds. Coupled with the very infectious bacteria found in their mouths, a sloth bite will often result in severe infection for those who are unfortunate enough to be bitten.

While sloths move slowly in nearly every other facet of their life, they are quick to defend themselves and bites can happen fast. This is why, despite their slow-poke reputation, it’s important to take safety seriously and observe all wildlife, including sloths, from a distance.

Currently, the Minnesota Zoo has four resident Linnaeus’s sloths — Chewie, Lenny, Luca, and Zippy. You can find Chewie and Lenny snoozing and cruising around in the canopy of their habitats on the Zoo’s Tropics Trail. Meanwhile, Luca and Zippy are living their best lives behind-the-scenes as ambassador animals for their species. By showcasing natural behaviors and characteristics (like their pointy teeth!), Luca and Zippy serve a critical role as they educate people on all things sloth and inspire guests to protect their wild counterparts.