Head to head
Potto vs Angwantibo
The potto and angwantibo are both slow-moving nocturnal primates from the same broader loris family found across African rainforest, but they rely on different survival strategies and have one clear anatomical difference between them.
| Potto | Angwantibo | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Perodicticus potto | Arctocebus calabarensis |
| Defence mechanism | Hidden bony neck spines | No spines, relies on stealth |
| Index finger | Present and functional | Notably reduced |
| Diet specialisation | Broad: fruit, gum, insects | Specialised: chemically defended caterpillars |
| Range | West and Central Africa | West and Central Africa |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Rainforest | Rainforest |
Potto vs Angwantibo: common questions
What is the main difference between a potto and an angwantibo?
The clearest physical difference is the index finger, which is present and functional in the potto but notably reduced in the angwantibo, while behaviourally the potto relies on hidden bony neck spines for defence and the angwantibo instead relies on stealth and a specialised diet of chemically defended caterpillars.
Why does the angwantibo eat caterpillars other animals avoid?
This species specialises in hairy, chemically defended caterpillars that most other predators avoid entirely, a dietary niche that reduces competition for food, unlike the potto, which feeds more broadly on fruit, gum, and insects across the same rainforest habitat.
Do both the potto and angwantibo move at the same slow pace?
Yes, both species move through the canopy with unusually slow, deliberate motion that helps them avoid detection by predators, though only the potto backs this up with sharp hidden bony spines it can use defensively if it is discovered despite its stealth.