Loris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lorises |
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| Joseph Smit's Faces of Lorises (1904) | |
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Lorinae
Gray, 1821
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Lorises are small, furry mammals that live alone. They make their homes in the warm, wet tropical rainforests of southeast Asia. These amazing creatures spend their whole lives in trees, which means they are arboreal.
Lorises are also nocturnal. This means they are most active at night, when they hunt for food and explore their forest home. In zoos or special care, a loris can live for up to 13 years.
About Lorises
Lorises belong to a group of animals called primates. This group also includes monkeys, apes, and even humans! Lorises are close relatives of galagos, which are sometimes called "bushbabies." They are also related to lemurs, which live on the island of Madagascar.
What They Look Like
Lorises have some very special features. They have huge, round eyes that help them see well in the dark. Their fingers and toes are great for gripping branches. They have "opposable digits," which means their thumbs and big toes can move to grab things, just like yours!
A loris can be anywhere from 7 to 15 inches (18 to 38 cm) long. That's about the size of a small house cat. They also have a very short, stubby tail, usually only about 1 inch (3 cm) long.
What They Eat
Lorises are omnivores. This means they eat both plants and animals. Their diet mostly includes tasty insects and small lizards. They also enjoy eating sweet fruits and young plant shoots they find in the rainforest.
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