Extreme primates: Ecology and evolution of Asian lorises

Abstract

Asia's slow and slender lorises (Nycticebus and Loris) are among nature's most extreme primates. Until recently, it was not understood why lorises have such huge forward-facing eyes, strange steady climbing locomotion, tiny dependent babies, and a bite that potentially can kill a human! Indeed, early studies described them as slow, solitary, and boring. Twenty years of field research now indicate that lorises are among the most intriguing mammal species.

OVERVIEW: Conservation and ecology of the neglected slow loris: priorities and prospects

“…Finally, Fuller et al (2014, this Theme Section) re viewed 30 yr of mortality data of pottos and slender and slow lorises in North American zoos. The taxonomy of lorisids in captivity has still not caught up with genetic and morphological assessments of the diversity within the Lorisidae (Nekaris 2014); it is thus not surprising that the majority of deaths in North American zoos were of neonates, which were likely to be hybrids between various species. Amongst older animals numerous pathologies occurred that again link back to a poor-quality diet in these animals, not excluding severe dental trauma (see also Streicher 2004).…”

“…Morphologically unique (Fig. 2), the lorisids are characterised by large forward-facing eyes, a vice-like grip with a shortened second digit, a short tail, species-specific facial markings, and short woolly fur, a suite of characteristics that has long been of interest to morphologists (Ishida et al 1992, Kingston et al 2010, Nekaris 2014. Classified as arboreal slow climbers, lorises and pottos cannot leap, but instead bridge between gaps in the forest canopy and dense underbrush in tree fall zones (Sellers 1996 Swapna et al 2010.…”

“…Of all the lorisids, the number of studies of slow lorises has increased the most rapidly in recent years ( Fig. 1), in part in response to their dire conservation status (Nekaris 2014). Slow lorises are relatively gregarious primates, living in pairs with 1 to 4 offspring, covering home ranges from 3 to 35 ha (Nekaris 2014).…”

“…1), in part in response to their dire conservation status (Nekaris 2014). Slow lorises are relatively gregarious primates, living in pairs with 1 to 4 offspring, covering home ranges from 3 to 35 ha (Nekaris 2014). In terms of diet, slow lorises are gouging specialists, and their lower front teeth comprise a unique toothcomb that allows them to anchor their teeth into bark to produce holes from which exudates emerge and are licked by a long tongue , Streicher et al 2012.…”

Effects of Environmental Enrichment on the Social Behaviour of Javan Slow Loris, Nycticebus javanicus

“…Information yielded from these studies reveals that slow lorises have relatively large home ranges for their body size and can be active for much of the night (Wiens & Zitzmann, 2003). They were previously considered solitary animals, although recent studies suggest otherwise (Nekaris, 2014), where slow lorises have regular social contact with other conspecifics, and occasionally sleep in groups (Weins & Zitzmann, 2003;RodeMargono et al, 2014). The lorises' diet consists of flowers, sap, gum, fruits and animal prey (Wiens et al, 2006;Rode-Margono et al, 2014).…”