Slow Loris facts:
- The Slow Loris is a nocturnal primate. It has forward-facing eyes and human-like hands with an opposable thumb.
- Slow Lorises have one of the slowest primate life histories. Six months pregnancy for these pint-sized primates produces babies the weight of a handful of paper-clips (less than 50 g). They can live up to 25 years.
- The name 'Loris' has Dutch origin and means 'clown', which probably comes from the facial features that help to define the Slow Loris.
- The Slow Loris has its second finger reduced for gripping and one of the longest tongues of all the primates. Slow Lorises use their tongues to drink nectar.
- The Slow Lorises are small to medium-sized primates which range in weight from 103 g. to more than 2 kg.
- The Slow Loris movement looks similar to that of a snake due to their twisting movement caused by having several more vertebra in their spine than other primates.
- Although the Slow Loris is relatively small mammal, its home ranges can be the size of 35 football pitches.
- The Slow Loris's bite is very poisonous and its venom can kill. Currently there is no antidote and it is still not clear what is the reason for the Slow Loris venom.- The Slow Loris is endangered due to both habitat loss and hunting for illegal pet and traditional medicine trades. In some parts of Asia it is known as the animal which can cure 100 diseases.
- There are five species of Slow Loris currently recognised - the Bengal, Javan, Bornean, Pygmy and greater Slow Loris.
- The Slow Loris is amongst the rarest primates on Earth. They devolved from their closest cousins the African bush-babies around 40 million years ago.
- They have a range of habitats over a vast area of southern and south-eastern Asia.
- Although Slow Lorises are seen as slow movers, they frequently ’race walk’ and can move up to 8km per night. Equally they are able to remain totally still for hours on end if required.