Meet the slow loris, a cute primate with a toxic bite
© Mikaail Kavanagh / WWF
Slow lorises are a study in contradictions. With wide eyes and furry bodies, these slow-moving, pint-sized primates look like cuddly stuffed animals. But their venom-filled bites can rot flesh and cause anaphylactic shock in humans. Those chomps are a helpful defense against predators, but these territorial tree-dwellers primarily use them on other slow lorises—a rare behavior among mammals.
Pygmy slow loris
Xanthonycticebus pygmaeus
RANGE & HABITAT Rain forests of South and Southeast Asia
DIET Mostly tree gum, saps, and nectar, as well as fruit and insects
LIFESPAN 10–20 years
- BODY About 6–10 inches long and around 1 lb., smaller than the average squirrel
- EYES Large and round, with a reflective layer that gives the animal excellent night vision
- FUR Has contrasting markings called aposematic coloration, which helps ward off potential predators
- HANDS AND FEET Strong, with limber wrists and ankles and specialized capillaries that allow the loris to cling to branches for hours
- TONGUES A long upper tongue is used for eating nectar, while a smaller lower one is used to clean its toothcomb
“Loris” comes from the old Dutch word for clown, in reference to the dark, make-up-like circles around their eyes.
© JOEL SARTORE/PHOTO ARK
Venomous species
The world’s only venomous primates, slow lorises produce oil from the brachial gland on their upper arm. When they raise their arms and lick the gland, enzymes in their saliva mix with the oil to produce venom that gets pulled into their toothcomb, where it’s then ready to be delivered with a bite.
Don’t pet me
The illegal exotic pet trade is one of the biggest threats to slow lorises, now among the world’s rarest primates. They do not make good pets, however, and often die quickly due to the stress of captivity, which can include having their teeth removed so they can’t injure people.
© MIKE HILL/GETTY IMAGES
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