Bengal Slow Loris

Nycticebus bengalensis

The Bengal Slow Loris is a small, nocturnal primate with big, round eyes. It moves slowly through the trees and has a special way of climbing using all four limbs.

Habitat: Rainforest

Appearance

The Bengal Slow Loris has large, round, dark eyes and soft, dense fur that ranges from reddish-brown to grey. It features a distinctive dark stripe running down its back, contrasting with its lighter belly, and possesses tiny, hidden ears.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderPrimatesFamilyLorisidaeGenusNycticebus

Bengal Slow Loris

Interesting facts

Baby lorises cling tightly to their mother's fur for many months!

These forest dwellers love to sip on tree sap as a sugary treat!

They can twist their heads nearly all the way around to look behind them!

When threatened, they curl into a tight ball, protecting their soft belly!

Special abilities

Bengal Slow Loris can deliver a venomous bite because of a gland in its arm that mixes toxins with saliva, helping them ward off predators.

Bengal Slow Loris has enormous, forward-facing eyes that gather extra light, helping them see clearly and hunt in the darkest nights.

Bengal Slow Loris can cling incredibly tightly to branches for hours, thanks to powerful hand and foot grips, helping them move securely and sleep.

Bengal Slow Loris has extremely slow and deliberate movements that help them sneak up on prey and avoid detection by predators.

Measurements & details

Length: 26-38 cm
Weight: 0.6-2.1 kg
Lifespan: 12-20 years
Top Speed: 2 km/h
Litter Size: 1-2
Gestation: 180-190 days

Diet & Feeding

An omnivore, it enjoys sticky tree sap, juicy fruits, tasty insects, and even small lizards!

Primary Foods

Tree sap (gum)
Fruits
Insects
Nectar
Small lizards
Bird eggs

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Changeable Hawk-Eagle

Nisaetus cirrhatus

A sharp-eyed bird of prey that hunts the slow loris from above.

eats

Sacred Fig

Ficus religiosa

Feeds on the sweet, energy-rich fruits of this common fig tree.

eats

Asiatic Honey Bee

Apis cerana

Raids bee nests for nutritious honey and larvae as a food source.

eaten by

Indian Python

Python molurus

A large constrictor that ambushes lorises in trees at night.

Traits

Omnivorous

Meet versatile eaters who enjoy a wide variety of foods, from plants to other animals, allowing them to adapt to many different environments. They're nature's flexible diners!

Arboreal

Climb high with animals who love living in trees! These agile creatures find their food, shelter, and even raise their families among the branches.

Ancient Lineage

These fascinating organisms carry echoes of the deep past, with ancestors that have roamed the Earth for an incredible span of time. They are living links to ancient worlds!

Rainforest

These lush, humid forests are bursting with life, where towering trees create a canopy and rainfall is abundant all year round.

Toxic

These plants and animals contain substances that can be harmful if they enter another living being. It's their way of staying safe in the wild.

Vampiric

Discover fascinating creatures that feed on the blood or fluids of other living things! They're not scary, but they have a unique way of getting their meals.

Nocturnal

Explore the secret world of animals that come alive at night! They are wide awake when it's dark, using their amazing senses to find food and play.

Venomous

Be amazed by animals that can inject special substances to defend themselves or catch their food! They deliver their potent dose through a bite or a sting.