Lorisidae
Lorisids[1] Temporal range:
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Pygmy slow loris | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Primates |
Suborder: | Strepsirrhini |
Superfamily: | Lorisoidea |
Family: | Lorisidae Gray, 1821 |
Type genus | |
Loris Geoffroy, 1796
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Genera | |
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Synonyms | |
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Lorisidae (or sometimes Loridae) is a family of
Classification
There are five genera and sixteen species of lorisid.[1]
- Order Primates
- Suborder Strepsirrhini: non-tarsier prosimians
- Infraorder Lemuriformes
- Superfamily Lemuroidea
- Superfamily Lorisoidea
- Family Lorisidae
- Subfamily Perodicticinae
- Genus Arctocebus, angwantibos
- Genus Perodicticus, pottos
- Genus
- Subfamily Lorisinae
- Subfamily Perodicticinae
- Family Galagidae: galagos
- Family Lorisidae
- Infraorder Lemuriformes
- Suborder Haplorrhini: tarsiers, monkeys and apes
- Suborder Strepsirrhini: non-tarsier prosimians
Description
Lorisids have a close, woolly fur, which is usually grey or brown, darker on the top side. The eyes are large and face forward. The ears are small and often partially hidden in the fur. The thumbs are opposable and the index finger is short. The second toe of the hind legs has a fine claw for grooming, typical for strepsirrhines. Their tails are short or are missing completely. They grow to a length of 17 to 40 cm and a weight of between 0.3 and 2 kg, depending on the species. Their
Behavior and ecology
Lorisids are
Slow lorises from southeast Asia produce a secretion from their brachial gland (a scent gland on the upper arm, between the axilla and elbow), that is licked and mixed with their saliva to form a toxin which may be used for defense. The red slender loris (Loris tardigradus) from India also possesses brachial glands, but it is uncertain whether they also synthesize the toxin. The potto (Perodicticus potto) is thought to lack brachial glands, though it produces similar toxic excretions with its anal glands.[5]
Lorisids have a gestation period of four to six months and give birth to two young. These often clasp themselves to the belly of the mother or wait in nests, while the mother goes to search for food. After three to nine months - depending on the species - they are weaned and are fully mature within 10 to 18 months. The life expectancy of lorises can be to up to 20 years.
Lorisids consume insects, bird eggs and small vertebrates as well as fruits and gums.[6][7][8][9]
References
- ^ OCLC 62265494.
- S2CID 29045930.
- S2CID 247649999.
- ISBN 0-87196-871-1.
- ^ Alterman 1995, pp. 421–423.
- ISBN 978-0520080850.
- ^ Svensson, M.; Nekaris, K.A.I. (2019). "Arctocebus aureus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T2053A17969875. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ "Slender loris - Introspective World". anintrospectiveworld.blogspot.ca. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- . Retrieved 24 December 2019.
Literature cited
- Alterman, L. (1995). "Toxins and toothcombs: potential allospecific chemical defenses in Nycticebus and Perodicticus". In Alterman, L.; Doyle, G.A.; Izard, M.K (eds.). Creatures of the Dark: The Nocturnal Prosimians. New York, New York: Plenum Press. pp. 413–424. OCLC 33441731.