Sloths are tree-dwelling mammals known for their slow movements and long claws, spending almost their entire lives suspended from branches in Central and South American forests. Many people wonder if these unique animals have specific, formal names for the different sexes, similar to how cows are female and bulls are male. Unlike many other wildlife species with specialized vocabulary, the terminology used for sloths is much simpler, largely because they have not been domesticated.
Terminology for Adult Sloths
The most direct answer is that a female or male sloth is simply called a “female sloth” or a “male sloth.” Sloths do not possess unique, widely accepted gender-specific terms in common language or scientific literature, unlike animals such as a hen and a rooster. This lack of distinct naming is because sloths are solitary, wild animals that have not been domesticated.
The scientific community focuses on species classification, such as the two-toed sloths (Choloepus) and three-toed sloths (Bradypus), rather than creating gender-specific common names. Researchers use standard biological descriptors, referring to them as males or females. Differentiation between the sexes in the wild is often based on subtle size differences. Some adult male three-toed sloths also have a dark patch of fur, called a speculum, on their backs.
Terminology for Young Sloths
The accepted term for a young sloth is a “baby sloth” or an “infant sloth.” Terms like “cub,” “kit,” or “pup,” used for the young of other mammal species, are not typically applied to sloths. Sloth infants are born after a gestation period ranging from six months to a year, depending on the species.
Newborn sloths are highly dependent on their mothers, clinging to her underside for the first several months of life. They often remain with the mother for up to a year before becoming fully independent. This prolonged physical attachment is a defining feature of their early development.
Collective Nouns for Sloths
Collective nouns are terms used to describe a group of animals, and sloths have a few proposed names when seen together. A group of sloths is sometimes referred to as a “bed of sloths” or a “sloth of sloths.” These terms, however, are rarely used in practice.
Sloths are known for their solitary nature, meaning that groups are seldom observed in the wild. When sloths are seen near one another, it is usually a mother with her infant or a temporary gathering around a desirable food source. The concept of a collective noun is often more of a linguistic curiosity than a practical term.