Basic info Taxonomic history Classification Included Taxa
Morphology Ecology and taphonomy External Literature Search Age range and collections

Bradypus variegatus (brown-throated three-toed sloth)

Mammalia - Bradypodidae

Discussion

In different parts of its range, Bradypus variegatus (Fig. 1) is sympatric with both two-toed sloths, Linnaeus's two-toed sloth (Choloepus didaetylus) and Hoffmann's twotoed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni). The faces of the 2 genera have striking visual differences: the face of Choloepus is much more elongated, with a more-promient fleshy nose, whereas that of Bradypus is much blunter. B. variegatus has 3 digits on the manus that are partially fused and hairy volar pads, whereas both Choloepus have only 2 unfused digits and hairless volar pads (Mendel 1985). In addition, B. variegatus has 8 or 9 cervical vertebrae compared with 6 in C. hoffmanni (Mendel 1985). Compared with the pale-throated sloth (B. tridaetylus), B. variegatus has a brown throat (that of B. tridactylus is yellow) and lacks distinct foramina in the anterodorsal nasopharynx (present in B. tridaetylus-Wetzel and Avila-Pires 1980). The color differences are variable and in areas of overlap (especially northern Brazil) the 2 species are difficult to distinguish. B. variegatus lacks the black mane on the neck and shoulders of the maned sloth (B. torquatus-Wetzel and Avila-Pires 1980). B. variegatus is generally larger in size (total length >535 mm) than the pygmy three-toed sloth (B. pygmaeus-total length <535 mm) and has a more robust skull. The coronoid process of the mandible (Fig. 2) for B. variegatusis thick, whereas that of B. pygmaeus is thin and falcate (Anderson and Handley

2001). B. variegatus, B. tridactylus, and B. torquatus are broadly similar in size.

Taxonomy
Bradypus variegatus was named by Schinz (1825). It is extant.

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1825Bradypus variegatus Schinz
1871Arctopithecus griseus Gray p. 302
1913Bradypus ignavus Goldman
1940Bradypus griseus Crile and Quiring p. 233
2005Bradypus variegatus Wilson and Reeder
2010Bradypus variegatus Hayssen

Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data

RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
subclassSynapsida
Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
RankNameAuthor
Mammaliamorpha
Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
Theriamorpha(Rowe 1993)
Theriiformes()
Trechnotheria
Cladotheria
Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
Eutheria()
Placentalia
Americatheria
Xenarthra()
infraorderPilosaFlower 1883
Folivora
classEufolivoraDelsuc et al. 2001
familyBradypodidae()
genusBradypus
speciesvariegatusSchinz 1825

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Bradypus variegatus Schinz 1825 [brown-throated three-toed sloth]
show all | hide all
Invalid names: Bradypus griseus Gray 1871 [synonym], Bradypus ignavus Goldman 1913 [synonym]
show all | hide all
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available