Pygmy Slow Loris: Nycticebus pygmaeus

A Rare Primate

The Pygmy Slow Loris is one of three species of slow lorises that exist today.  All are quite rare and this species is no exception.  It's found in dry tropical forests in Vietnam, Laos, China and Cambodia.  According to scientists at the San Diego Zoo there are about 72,000 species in the wild and as of 2006, 183 in captivity.

Despite their appearence, lorises are small primates, relatives of apes and monkeys. 

Small, Quite, Nocturnal Omnivores

Lorises are omnivores that are active at night.  They will eat insects, fruits, snails and small mammals. They live in trees crawling slowly through the branches and thick leaves.  These small primates are very tiny and only weigh about one pound when full grown. 

Loris' Reproduction

Lorises have relatively slow growth for a small mammal.  Gestation for young is about 190 days.  After birth newborns stick with their mother for about 9 more months.  Lorises reach sexual maturity around 9 months if they are female and between 17 and 20 months for males.

Toxic Mammals

Lorises are one of the few mammals that can produce toxic compounds.  They produce toxins via a gland in their armpits.  They then lick it and hold it in their mouths.  If they bite in defense it will inject the toxic compounds.  Its not known to be fatal to humans but great swelling will result.

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