Bing Sloth Quiz: 20 Questions About the World’s Slowest Mammals
Algae in their fur, moths in their coats, one bathroom trip a week and a head that turns 270 degrees. Take it slow, answer 20 questions about sloths, and watch our sloth inch along the branch as you go.
20 questions4 choices eachNo timerEvery answer explained
The canopy climb
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0Fresh leaves
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Our sloth has a branch to cross, one question at a time. Every right answer grows a fresh green leaf; every miss leaves a dry brown one. No rush: there is no timer, so take it at sloth speed and read each explanation.
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What Is the Bing Sloth Quiz?
Every so often a sleepy-looking sloth hangs from a branch on the Bing homepage, and half the internet wants to know more. This quiz is for anyone who has ever wondered what that sloth is actually doing up there.
The Bing Sloth Quiz on Bing Quizzes is an independent, 20-question wildlife quiz. It goes beyond "sloths are slow" to cover how they eat, sleep, swim and survive, the tiny ecosystems living in their fur, their giant prehistoric cousins and the six species alive today. Each question has a short explanation, and facts are checked against research and conservation sources listed at the end of this page.
Please note: Bing Quizzes is not affiliated with Microsoft or Bing, and this quiz does not earn Microsoft Rewards points. Want something new tomorrow? Play today's Bing Homepage Quiz, which features a fresh topic every day.
Two-Toed vs. Three-Toed Sloths
All living sloths belong to two groups that look alike but are only distant cousins. Scientists think their tree-hanging lifestyle evolved separately in each group. The names are a little misleading, because both kinds have three toes on their back feet. The difference is on the front limbs.
2Two-toed sloths
- Two clawed fingers on each front limb
- Genus Choloepus, with 2 species
- Larger, with a rounder snout and no tail
- Mostly active at night
- Varied diet: leaves, fruit, flowers and sometimes insects
3Three-toed sloths
- Three clawed fingers on each front limb
- Genus Bradypus, with 4 species
- Smaller, with a "smiling" face mask and a short tail
- Active by day and by night
- Extra neck vertebrae let them turn their heads about 270°
The Six Living Sloth Species
All six live in the tropical forests of Central and South America. Their closest living relatives are anteaters, and together with armadillos they belong to an ancient group of mammals called xenarthrans.
Three-toedBrown-throated slothBradypus variegatus
The most widespread sloth, from Central America deep into South America.
Three-toedPale-throated slothBradypus tridactylus
Northern South America, including the Guianas and parts of Venezuela and Brazil.
Three-toedManed slothBradypus torquatus
Found only in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, named for its dark mane of neck fur.
Critically EndangeredPygmy three-toed slothBradypus pygmaeus
The smallest sloth, living only on Panama's tiny Isla Escudo de Veraguas.
Two-toedLinnaeus's two-toed slothCholoepus didactylus
Rainforests of northern South America, including the Amazon basin.
Two-toedHoffmann's two-toed slothCholoepus hoffmanni
Central America and northwestern South America, often seen in Costa Rica.
Why Sloths Are So Slow
Sloths aren't lazy; they're running on a tight energy budget. Leaves are tough to digest and low in calories, so sloths have evolved to spend as little energy as possible.
~1 monthfor a meal of leaves to pass through the gut
Once a weekclimbing down to the ground to go to the bathroom
~10 hoursof sleep a day for wild sloths, far less than the myth
40 minutesholding their breath underwater by slowing the heart
Moving slowly has a hidden bonus: it is surprisingly good camouflage. Predators such as harpy eagles and jaguars hunt by spotting movement, and a sloth that barely moves, with greenish algae growing in its grooved hair, is easy to overlook.
Sloths are also built for hanging. Their long, curved claws hook over branches, and their bodies are adapted so that hanging takes very little muscle effort. They eat, sleep, mate and even give birth upside down. Even their hair parts along the belly instead of the back, so rain runs off while they hang.
Sloth Myths vs. Facts
Myth
Sloths sleep 20 hours a day.
Fact
That figure came from captive sloths. A 2008 study tracking wild sloths in Panama measured about 9.6 hours of sleep a day.
Myth
Sloths can't swim.
Fact
Sloths are capable swimmers and can move about three times faster in water than on land.
Myth
Sloths are related to monkeys or koalas.
Fact
Their closest relatives are anteaters. Koalas are marsupials from Australia and not related at all.
Myth
Sloths make good pets.
Fact
Sloths need specialized diets, warm humid habitats and minimal handling. Most "pet" sloths are taken from the wild.
Threats and How to Help
Most sloths are not endangered, but they face growing pressure as rainforests are cleared. Sloths that cross roads or climb power lines because their trees are gone are often injured. The pygmy three-toed sloth is Critically Endangered because its whole world is one island smaller than 4.3 square kilometers.
Skip the sloth selfie
Holding or posing with sloths stresses them. Ethical sanctuaries let you watch, not touch.
Never buy a pet sloth
The wildlife trade takes babies from the wild, often from mothers who are killed.
Support forest corridors
Conservation groups build rope bridges and replant trees so sloths can travel safely.
Mark Sloth Day
International Sloth Day, on October 20, was started in 2010 by Colombia's AIUNAU Foundation to raise awareness.
Tips for a Higher Score
- Think energy budget. If a question asks why sloths do something, the answer usually involves saving energy.
- Remember the toes trick. All sloths have three toes on their back feet; the "two" and "three" refer to the front limbs.
- Distrust the famous numbers. The "20 hours of sleep" figure is a myth from captivity. Wild sloths sleep far less.
- Picture the fur. Algae, moths and hair that parts on the belly all come from life upside down in a humid forest.
- Go slow. There is no timer. Read every explanation, then climb again with shuffled answers in a day or two.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the official Bing Sloth Quiz from Microsoft?
No. This is an independent quiz written for BingQuizzes.com. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by Microsoft or Bing, and it does not earn Microsoft Rewards points.
How many questions are in the Bing Sloth Quiz?
There are 20 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer choices, played one at a time as our sloth crosses the branch.
Is there a time limit?
No. There is no timer, so you can take your time and read every explanation.
How many species of sloth are there?
There are six living species: four three-toed sloths in the genus Bradypus and two two-toed sloths in the genus Choloepus.
How long do sloths really sleep?
A 2008 study of wild brown-throated sloths in Panama found they slept about 9.6 hours a day, around six hours less than sloths in captivity.
Can I replay the quiz?
Yes. After the last question, choose "Climb again with shuffled answers" to start over with the choices in a new order.
Where do the facts come from?
Answers are checked against scientific and conservation sources, including the Max Planck Society, ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and Britannica, listed in the Sources section below.
More Quizzes to Play
Sources and Further Reading
- Max Planck Society, "Not living up to their name" (wild sloth sleep study, 2008). mpg.de
- ZSL (Zoological Society of London), "Pygmy three-toed sloth conservation." zsl.org
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Sloth." britannica.com
- Lonely Planet, "Strange sloth facts." lonelyplanet.com
- Time and Date, "International Sloth Day." timeanddate.com
Bing Quizzes is an independent website and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Microsoft. Bing is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll correct it.