Beastfile · Mammals
Slow Loris
Nycticebus
The only venomous primate, and the reason is a gland in its elbow.
Overview
The slow loris is the only primate known to be venomous, and it produces the venom in an unusual way. A gland on the inside of the upper arm secretes an oil, and the animal licks it, mixing the secretion with saliva to activate it. The resulting bite can cause severe swelling and, in rare cases, anaphylaxis in humans. Mothers groom it into their infants before leaving them parked on a branch. Everything else about the animal follows from moving slowly in the dark: huge forward-facing eyes with a reflective layer behind the retina, a deliberate hand-over-hand climb, and a grip it can hold for hours.
Origin
Rainforest and bamboo forest across southeast Asia and northeast India, from Bangladesh through Indochina to Indonesia and the Philippines.
Habitat
RainforestNotable Traits
- •The only primate known to be venomous
- •Venom activated by licking a gland on the upper arm
- •A reflective layer behind the retina for night vision
- •Moves slowly and deliberately rather than leaping
- •Can grip a branch for hours without tiring
Conservation
Poor across the genus, with several species Endangered or Critically Endangered. The pet trade is a direct driver: animals have their teeth cut out to make them safe to handle, which frequently kills them.
