The Slow Loris is native to parts of Bangladesh, Assam, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand, parts of Malay peninsula, and parts of the Philippines. They occupy primary and secondary forests, and bamboo forests.
They are nocturnal and largely aboreal animals, spending little time on the ground. They have a number of interesting adaptations to aboreal life such as a big toe set widely apart from the rest of the toes and extra thoracic vertebra. Like other strepsirrhines, they have a grooming claw on their second digit and a tooth comb. They also have a vestigial tail and brachial glands that secrete a toxin possibly used in defense. Of course, as with many exotic animals, they are rare, protected, and on the endangered species list. One thing for certain though is their childlike facial expressions leave us thinking aww how sweet! |