Pygmy slow loris
The pygmy slow loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) is a species of slow loris. It is a small nocturnal primate with large eyes.[1] It lives in thick forest and bamboo groves. They are found in Vietnam, Laos, China, Thailand, and parts of Cambodia. Because their habitat is reduced, their status is "vulnerable".[1]
| Pygmy slow loris | |
|---|---|
| File:Nycticebus pygmaeus 004.jpg | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | Primates |
| Family: | Lorisidae |
| Genus: | Nycticebus |
| Species: | N. pygmaeus
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| Binomial name | |
| Nycticebus pygmaeus Bonhote, 1907
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| File:Pygmy Slow Loris area.png | |
| Pygmy slow loris range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Life style
They have small hands and feet, but an extraordinarily strong grasp. They can hang from branches as they catch their food. Their large eyes help them find their food.[2]
Their diet consists of insects and soft fruit. They eat gum from trees and this may help them survive food shortages.[3]
With their small size they weigh between 0.8 to 1 pound in adulthood.[3] Usually once a male has reached maturity, they become territorial and do not tolerate other males. This is why their social life is described as solitary, although they are known to be able to live among females of their species. In captivity the lifespan of the pygmy slow loris may be 20 years.
They produce offspring every 12 to 18 months. The females have gestational periods of about 188 days and have small litters of one or two babies. This species does not share parenting. The offspring stay with their mothers until they reach maturity.[3]
Survival
When the loris feels threatened it has a defense mechanism. It gives off a bad odor.[3] If a predator is not scared away by the smell they produce some kind of toxic secretion from their elbows. If they bite the predator, the poison is passed on.
Despite conservation efforts, they are captured and sold for pets in markets in Vietnam. They have a very cuddly appearance but in no way are suitable to be pets.
Pygmy Slow Loris Media
- Nycticebus pygmaeus 1907.jpg
The pygmy slow loris as illustrated in Bonhote's 1907 description of the species
- Nycticebus pygmaeus 002.jpg
Typical facial features include the overall rufous color, brown rings encircling large eyes, a white stripe from the nose to the forehead, and silvery gray hair at the sides of the head.
- Nycticebus pygmaeus skull.jpg
Palatal (left) and lateral (right) views of a pygmy slow loris skull
- Nycticebus pygmaeus 005.jpg
Insect prey can be captured while hanging upside-down from a branch.
- Slow loris - dried 01.JPG
The pygmy slow loris is captured for use in traditional medicine throughout its range.
- Nycticebus pygmaeus 007.jpg
Pygmy slow lorises obtained from animal markets suffer from stress, neglect, malnutrition, and infection. As a consequence, they seldom live long.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Pygmy slow loris - Lincoln Park Zoo". Archived from the original on 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
- ↑ "Pygmy loris videos, photos and facts - Nycticebus pygmaeus". Archived from the original on 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Pygmy slow loris - Duke Lemur Center".
Other websites
- Lincoln Park Zoo http://www.lpzoo.org/animal/pygmy-slow-loris Archived 2016-10-28 at the Wayback Machine
- Duke Lemur Center http://lemur.duke.edu/discover/meet-thelemurs/pygmy-slow[dead link] loris/