Slow loris
Slow lorises are nocturnal primates in the Asian genus Nycticebus. They move slowly, have large forward-facing eyes, and can deliver a venomous bite.
Slow loris venom: A defensive secretion made from a slow loris's brachial gland and activated when mixed with saliva. This secretion underlies the genus's rare ability among mammals to inflict a venomous bite.
Nycticebus: A genus of nocturnal Asian primates comprising all slow loris species. This is the scientific genus to which every slow loris belongs.
Slow loris trade: The capture, sale, and keeping of slow lorises, often as exotic pets. Demand for pets drives capture and transport that harm wild slow loris populations.
Slow loris species complex: A group of closely related slow loris populations whose species boundaries and evolutionary relationships require study. Taxonomic revisions have changed how diversity within the genus is recognized.
Brachial gland: A scent-producing gland on the upper arm of some mammals, including slow lorises. Slow lorises lick this gland, combining its secretion with saliva before biting.
Lorisidae: A family of primates that includes lorises, pottos, and angwantibos. The slow loris genus is one member of this broader primate family.
Slow loris conservation: Efforts to protect slow loris populations through habitat protection, enforcement, and research. All slow loris species face pressures from habitat loss and wildlife exploitation.
Venom evolution: The evolutionary development of venom and venom-delivery systems across animal lineages. The slow loris's venom is unusual among primates and raises questions about its evolutionary origins.
Lorisid locomotion: The deliberate, grasping movement used by lorises as they travel through branches. Slow, controlled climbing lets these primates move through trees with little noise.
Javan slow loris: A slow loris species, Nycticebus javanicus, native to Java, Indonesia. It is one of the most threatened and geographically restricted slow loris species.