Pygmy slow loris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pygmy slow loris |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Nycticebus
|
| Species: |
pygmaeus
|
 |
|
| Pygmy slow loris range | |
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The pygmy slow loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) is a tiny primate. It is one of several types of slow loris. This animal is active at night and has big eyes. Pygmy slow lorises live in thick forests and bamboo areas. You can find them in Vietnam, Laos, China, Thailand, and parts of Cambodia. Sadly, their homes are shrinking. Because of this, they are considered a "vulnerable" species.
Contents
Life and Habits
Pygmy slow lorises have small hands and feet. But they have an incredibly strong grip! They can hang from branches while they look for food. Their large eyes help them see well in the dark.
What They Eat
Their main foods are insects and soft fruits. They also eat gum from trees. Eating tree gum might help them survive when other food is hard to find.
Size and Social Life
These lorises are quite small. Adults usually weigh between 0.8 and 1 pound. When a male loris grows up, it often becomes territorial. This means it doesn't like other males in its area. Because of this, they are mostly solitary animals. However, they can live peacefully with females of their kind. In zoos, a pygmy slow loris can live for about 20 years.
Reproduction and Family Life
Female pygmy slow lorises have babies every 12 to 18 months. Their gestation period, or pregnancy, lasts about 188 days. They usually have one or two babies at a time. Unlike some animals, pygmy slow lorises do not share parenting duties. The young lorises stay with their mothers until they are old enough to live on their own.
Survival and Defense
When a pygmy slow loris feels threatened, it has a special way to protect itself. It can release a bad smell. If that doesn't scare a predator away, they have another trick. They can produce a special liquid from their elbows. If they bite the predator, this liquid acts like a mild poison.
Sadly, despite efforts to protect them, pygmy slow lorises are often caught illegally. They are then sold as pets in markets, especially in Vietnam. Even though they look very cute and cuddly, they are not good pets. They suffer a lot from stress and poor care when kept as pets.
- Learn more at:
- Lincoln Park Zoo: Pygmy Slow Loris
- Duke Lemur Center: Pygmy Slow Loris
Images for kids
-
The pygmy slow loris as illustrated in Bonhote's 1907 description of the species
-
Typical facial features include the overall rufous color, brown rings encircling large eyes, a white stripe from the nose to the forehead, and silvery gray hair at the sides of the head.
-
Palatal (left) and lateral (right) views of a pygmy slow loris skull
-
Insect prey can be captured while hanging upside-down from a branch.
-
The pygmy slow loris is captured for use in traditional medicine throughout its range.
-
Pygmy slow lorises obtained from animal markets suffer from stress, neglect, malnutrition, and infection. As a consequence, they seldom live long.
See also
In Spanish: Lorí Lento Pigmeo para niños
