Pygmy Slow Loris

ANIMAL:
Pygmy Slow Loris Nycticebus pygmaeus

Type of Animal:
Lorisid

Habitat:
Forests, forest edge, bamboo thickets (w or w/o hardwood trees), degraded habitats, bamboo groves, bamboo plantations, dense scrub, can be found as high as 4,921.26 ft

Location(s):
Laos, far E Cambodia, Vietnam, extreme S Yunnan bordering Laos/Vietnam

Appearance:
Encircling large round eyes, mostly pale face except for reddish-brown markings near eyes, reddish-brown head/pelage, silvery gray at sides of head, white stripe from nose to forehead, tail almost absent, small ears, round head

Food/Diet:
Fruit, gum, sap, nectar, plant exudates, tree parts, bamboo, tender shoots, insects, insect larvae, eggs, fungi, flowers, vegetables, berries

Status in Wild:
Endangered

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos & wildlife centers. Sanctuaries/rescue centers set up for confiscated lorises.

Lifestyle:
Solitary or small troops of a male, 1-2 females, & offspring

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Infant
Group: Troop

Weight:
Male: 15 oz
Female: 15.1 oz
Young: 6 oz

Gestation:
6 months 

Life Span:
17-20 years

Body Length:
7.7-9.1 in

Main predators are clouded leopards, eagles, & pythons.
 
Endangered due to pet/wildlife trade, habitat loss, deforestation, use in traditional medicine, military activity, & political upheaval.
 
Like all lorisids, they’re active at night (nocturnal). That’s where the big eyes come in handy-night vision.
 
Females usually give birth to singletons or twins.
 
Females sexually mature at 9 months, males at 1.5 years.
 
Territory marked w/ urine w/ communication done most often w/ smell.
 
Highly arboreal, very rarely coming to ground.

Fun Fact(s):
‘Loris’ may derive from Dutch ‘Loeres’ meaning ‘sluggish’ or ‘Loeris’ meaning ‘clown’ maybe due to facial appearance.
 
Have extremely strong fingers/toes, being able to maintain grip for hours.
 
1 of very few venomous mammals-1 of only 8 venomous primates-others being the other 7 slow loris species. Toxin obtained by licking sexual gland on arm w/ secretion activated by mixing w/ saliva. Venomous bite deterrent to predators & moms also apply toxin to infant’s fur when grooming for protection. Bites often cause anaphylactic shock & occasionally, death. Protein in venom similar to allergenic protein on cats.
 
Both sexes, but especially males, fight to death by using venom, often licking brachial glands.
 
Despite viral videos/photos w/ these animals as pets, they make terrible pets. 1st, they’re nocturnal & don’t like bright light. 2nd, they’re almost always taken from wild, w/ many dying in transit. Traffickers usually pull teeth out (due to venomous bite). Despite viral video w/ loris being tickled raising arms above head looking happy, that loris wasn’t happy-it was attempting to defend itself by accessing venomous gland in elbow. In fact, International Animal Rescue launched Tickling is Torture campaign in 2015 to raise awareness. Often animals destined for pet trade can’t be released back into wild due to lack of teeth.

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