Mammals
Slender Loris
Loris tardigradus · also called red slender loris
Gripping a branch with careful, deliberate precision, a slender loris scans the darkness with enormous round eyes, its unusually thin limbs and unhurried movements making it one of the stealthiest nocturnal hunters in the rainforest canopy.
Overview
The slender loris, Loris tardigradus, is an Endangered primate native to rainforest habitat across Sri Lanka and parts of southern India. Its extremely thin limbs, enormous night-adapted eyes, and unusual capacity for a mildly toxic bite make it one of the most distinctive and quietly specialised primates found in South Asia.
Precision over speed
Every part of the slender loris’s hunting style favours patience over quickness, from its deliberate, careful grip on each branch to its reliance on enormous eyes rather than fast reflexes to locate insect prey in total darkness.
Status
Endangered, with a population declining due to habitat loss and capture for the exotic pet and traditional medicine trades.
Slender Loris: common questions
Why is it called the slender loris?
It has unusually thin, elongated limbs, a distinctive body shape that gives the species its common name.
Can a slender loris really deliver a toxic bite?
Yes, it can combine saliva with a secretion from a gland near its elbow to produce a mildly toxic bite, an unusual defensive trait among primates.
Why does the slender loris move so slowly?
Its slow, deliberate movement style relies on careful, controlled gripping at each step rather than speed, helping it stay quiet and stable while hunting at night.
Where is the slender loris found?
It is native to rainforest habitat across Sri Lanka and parts of southern India.