Sunda Slow Loris

Nycticebus coucang

The Sunda Slow Loris is a small, slow-moving primate with big eyes. It moves carefully in the trees at night, looking for insects to eat.

Habitat: Rainforest

Appearance

The Sunda Slow Loris has large, round, forward-facing eyes, often with dark rings, for excellent night vision. It is covered in dense, woolly fur, typically reddish-brown to grey, with a distinctive dark stripe running down its back. This primate possesses a very short tail and small, hidden ears within its thick fur.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderPrimatesFamilyLorisidaeGenusNycticebus

Sunda Slow Loris

Interesting facts

Baby lorises cling tightly to their mother's fur for months, riding on her back as she searches for food!

Sunda Slow Lorises leave strong scent marks on branches to chat with other lorises, telling them 'I was here!'

These furry friends are important pollinators, helping trees like the durian by sipping nectar from their flowers.

They have a special 'tooth comb' of long lower incisors used for grooming fur and scraping tree gum!

Special abilities

Sunda Slow Loris has venom glands in its elbows, which mix with saliva to create a toxic bite that deters predators.

Sunda Slow Loris has huge forward-facing eyes with a special reflective layer (tapetum lucidum) to see clearly in the dark.

Sunda Slow Loris can cling incredibly tight with strong hands and feet for hours, moving silently through trees to avoid being seen.

Measurements & details

Length: 27-38 cm
Weight: 0.6-1.2 kg
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Top Speed: 1 km/h
Litter Size: 1-2
Gestation: 180-197 days

Diet & Feeding

This shy primate enjoys a varied diet of fruit, nectar, tree sap, and tasty insects.

Primary Foods

Fruits
Nectar
Tree gum
Insects
Small lizards
Bird eggs

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Blyth's Hawk-Eagle

Nisaetus alboniger

A fierce raptor that hunts the slow-moving loris from above.

eaten by

Reticulated Python

Python reticulatus

A large snake that ambushes lorises in their arboreal homes.

eats

Durian Tree

Durio zibethinus

Consumes nectar from its flowers, also aiding in pollination.

eats

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle

Oryctes rhinoceros

Feeds on larvae and adults of this common forest beetle.

Traits

Furry

Find adorable animals covered in a cozy coat of soft fur! Their fur helps them stay warm and protected in different environments.

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.

Insectivorous

Discover clever creatures that specialize in munching on insects, playing a super important role in keeping bug populations in check. They are nature's tiny bug vacuums!

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.