Slender loris

Slender lorises
Gray slender loris (Loris lydekkerianus)
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Lorisidae
Subfamily: Lorinae
Genus: Loris
É. Geoffroy, 1796[2]
Type species
Loris tardigradus
É. Geoffroy, 1758
Species
Synonyms
  • Stenops Illiger, 1811
  • Tardigradus Boddaert, 1785

Slender lorises (Loris) are a genus of loris native to India and Sri Lanka. The slender loris spends most of its life in trees (arboreal), traveling along the top of branches with slow and precise movements. It is found in tropical rainforests, scrub forest, semi deciduous forest and swamps. The species have lifespans of 15 years and are nocturnal. Slender lorises generally feed on insects, reptiles, shoots of plants and fruits. Locally, they are referred to as Kaadu Paapa ("forest baby") in Kannada, Kutti thevangu' in Tamil, and Unahapuluwa in Sri Lanka.

Taxonomy

There are two known species:

Threats

According to biologists, poaching activity has led to the steady decline of the species in Tamil Nadu. Native people have always believed that all parts of the slender loris have some medicinal or magical powers. This has contributed greatly to the decline of the slender loris. In addition, slender lorises are illegally smuggled to supply a growing exotic pet trade.[4] Along the western region of Tamil Nadu, there is a vigorous clampdown on illegal poaching of slender lorises.[5]

Destruction of tropical rain forest habitat is also contributing to declines in population.[6]

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "Checklist of CITES Species". CITES. UNEP-WCMC. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 122. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
  3. ↑ Loris and potto subspecies - data reviews
  4. ↑ "Men arrested hiding loris in underwear at Delhi airport". BBC News. 10 September 2012.
  5. ↑ "Saving the Loris". Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  6. ↑ "Slender loris". April 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
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