Head to head
Slender Loris vs Pygmy Slow Loris
Slender Loris
VS Pygmy Slow Loris
The slender loris and pygmy slow loris are both small, slow-moving nocturnal primates, but only the pygmy slow loris carries a toxic bite, a trait shared across its genus but entirely absent from the slender loris.
| Slender Loris | Pygmy Slow Loris | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Loris tardigradus | Nycticebus pygmaeus |
| Venomous bite | Not venomous | Venomous, combines saliva with an elbow gland secretion |
| Body build | Extremely thin, elongated limbs | Smallest of the slow loris species, more compact build |
| Diet | Carnivore, mainly insects | Omnivore, insects, fruit, and tree sap |
| Eyes | Enormous, round, for night hunting | Large, forward-facing, for low-light activity |
| Conservation status | Endangered | Vulnerable |
| Native range | Sri Lanka and southern India | Forest habitat across Southeast Asia |
| Movement style | Slow, deliberate precision | Slow, deliberate stealth |
Slender Loris vs Pygmy Slow Loris: common questions
Is the slender loris venomous like the pygmy slow loris?
No, the pygmy slow loris produces a toxic bite by combining saliva with a gland secretion near its elbow, a trait the slender loris entirely lacks.
Which is smaller, the slender loris or the pygmy slow loris?
The pygmy slow loris, which is the smallest of the slow loris species, though the slender loris is itself a small primate with an unusually thin, elongated build.
Where are the slender loris and pygmy slow loris found?
The slender loris is native to Sri Lanka and southern India, while the pygmy slow loris is native to forest habitat across parts of Southeast Asia.