Chris Calle: Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

Artist: Chris Calle
1961 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 2002
Image Size: 9 by 10.5 inches
Overall Size: 15 by 20 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Cold Press Illustration Board

A denizen of tropical rainforests in northern Brazil, through Guyana and Venezuela, up to Nicaragua, Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth spends most of its life hanging upside down in the trees. This nocturnal creature usually becomes active about one hour before sunset and feeds on a variety of leaves, twigs and fruit. Its slow metabolism enables it to survive on relatively small amounts of food. Water is consumed in the form of moist vegetation. This animal's teeth grow continuously and are worn down by grinding food -- it does not have incisors, but cuts leaves with its hard lips. Classified Choloepus hoffmanni, Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth has long hair that varies in color from dark brown to pale yellow. Its coat often displays a greenish cast produced by algae growth on its skin during the wet seasons. The algae is ingested by the sloth through licking or skin absorption, and provides essential nutrients, as well as camouflage, an important means of protection against predators. This species has a round head with a protruding hairless snout and small eyes edged with dark fur. Nearsighted and hard of hearing, this slow-moving creature cannot walk on the ground, but can only draw itself forward while lying flat on its belly. Females bear a single young after an eleven month gestation period. The young sloth can hang upside down about 20 to 25 days after its birth and continues to associate with the mother for at least two years.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the U.N. 34¢ Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth stamp issued April 4, 2002.

Artwork Copyright © 2002 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB16978

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