The pelage consists of long overhairs of thick diameter that are grooved longitudinally and short underfur of fine texture.
Most hairs point downward when the animal is hanging beneath a branch.
Thus, most of the hairs are directed opposite to the hairs of most other mammals. The general coloration is grayish brown, slightly darker on the head and face, while on the shoulders there is usually a light area with brown markings. Frequently, the coloration appears to be greenish because of algal growth on the coat. B. torquatus, the maned sloth, has long, dark hairs on the head and neck. These sloths have some resemblance to Choloepus, but the forelegs are substantially longer than the hind legs, and there are three digits on both the forefeet and the hind feet.