The slow loris is any one of three species of loris classified in the genus Nycticebus. These slow-moving Strepsirhini primates range from Borneo and the southern Philippines in Southeast Asia, through Bangladesh,Vietnam, Indonesia, India (North Eastern India, Bengal), southern China (Yunnan area), Sri Lanka and Thailand. They are hunted for their large eyes, which are prized for local traditional medicine, leaving them on the endangered species list. They are also turned into a wine said to alleviate pain, or dried and smoked. he Indonesian name, malu malu, can be translated as "shy one".
Ten Facts about Slow Lorises
- The slow loris is 10 to 15 inches long with a 3/8 to 3/4 inch long tail. It weighs 8 to 23 ounces.
- The slow loris is arboreal and nocturnal. It spends its life in the trees and sleeps during the day. It may live alone, in pairs or in groups.
- The female slow loris can breed twice per year and breeding occurs throughout the entire year.
- Only a single young is born after a gestation or pregnancy of 184 to 197 days. Young are weaned at around 190 days old.
- In captivity lifespans of 20 years or more are common. The maximum lifespan recorded was 26 years.
- Their diet includes insects, birds' eggs, baby birds, sleeping birds, sleeping mammals, fruit and plant matter.
- The slow loris is part of the diet of cats, sun bears and species of the Paradoxurus genus.
- Sexual maturity is achieved around 10 to 24 months.
- Adult males chase other males from its territory which it marks with urine.
- It has been estimated that over the past 21 to 24 years the slow loris has suffered a 30% decline in population. Its decline is the result of habitat loss as well as harvesting for the pet trade.
