Nycticebus coucang
slow loris

Nycticebus coucang inhabits the rainforests of southeast Asia, Assam, Burma, Thailand, Indo-China, certain Malayan states and East Indian Islands.

Slow lorises are arboreal primates, occupying the canopies of Malayan rainforest. They are almost never observed out of the treetops, although when they are on the ground, they move with a wavering trot.

Nycticebus coucang is a small primate, measuring between 300 and 380 mm for head and body. Individuals typically weigh less than 2 kg.

Slow lorises have a vestigial tail. The second digit on their hands is reduced in size, and the big toe on the hind foot is set well apart from the other toes, demonstrating great gripping power. As in all lorisoids, slow lorises have a long, curved claw on the second toe which sticks up and is used to scratch the skin. Lorises have more vertebrae in their backs, giving them a greater tree-climbing advantage since they can twist around above and below branches with wide range and extension of movement.

Slow lorises are covered with short, thick, woolly fur, which is found in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Generally, the color above is from light brownish gray to deep reddish brown, sometimes with a hoary effect produced by the tips of individual hairs. The color beneath ranges from white to buffy to grayish. There is usually a dark mid-line along the neck and back, and a light streak between the orbital rings.

This species produces a toxin from brachial glands on its arms, and a toothcomb on the lower jaw may help the loris transfer the toxin (see other comments).

Nycticebus coucang may live as long as 26 years in captivity, and lifespans of 20 years are not uncommon.

Slow lorises are mainly solitary and mark trees with their urine to avoid direct conflict with other individuals. This is done by urinating on their hands and wiping it onto tree trunks and branches. They are completely nocturnal and sleep during the day curled up in hollow trees, crevices, or simply along a branch. Despite their usual slow movements, slow lorises are quite capable of rapid locomotion, especially when disturbed or in search of food. They have been observed to make sharp twittering noises when annoyed.

Lorises may protect themselves and their young using a toxin (see Other Comments). Predators include cats, sun bears, and Paradoxurus.

Slow lorises have communication systems typical of prosimians. They use scent cues to communicate and to mark territories. They use vocalizations, including calls and whistles, to attract mates. Tactile communication in grooming and aggression are common. The role of visual signals in this species' communication has not been identified, but body postures and facial expressions are likely to be communicative.

Slow lorises are nocturnal predators and feed mainly on insects, bird eggs, and young birds or sleeping birds and mammals. They will readily eat fruits and other parts of plants, however. They move slowly toward their prey so as not to frighten it away, but once they are within striking range, lorises move quickly to subdue their prey. The grip of the slow loris's hind feet is so strong that it often gathers food hanging upside down using its front hands to capture and hold prey.

Lorises may protect themselves and their young using a toxin (see Other Comments). Predators include cats, sun bears, and Paradoxurus (palm civets).

As part of their general omnivory, these animals may help to structure local food webs.

Nycticebus coucang has no negative impact on human populations.

Legends about the use of slow lorises in cures and as luck charms (see Other Comments below) established some economic importance of lorises to humans, especially natives. In addition, their fur has been used in garments in the recent past.

Although slow lorises occupy a fairly broad geographic range, they are not common in these areas and are often out-competed by arboreal monkeys in areas where different species overlap. Since their secretive and nocturnal lifestyles make them difficult to observe, accurate population estimates in many areas are difficult to obtain. Other members of the genus are considered vulnerable or threatened by various agencies, and it is likely that with more research on N. coucang it may join these.

Natives have many strange superstitions and beliefs about the slow loris. Lorises or parts of them are claimed to have remarkable powers of good and evil. In addition, their fur is said to speed the healing of wounds; if a ship carries one as a mascot, it is never becalmed. Dead or alive, lorises were supposed to have power over the lives of human beings. The lorises themselves were believed to be unhappy because they were constantly seeing ghosts (which people believed is why they always bury their heads in their hands).

Captive studies have shown that this species produces a toxin, a polypeptide, from the brachial gland on the arm. The toxin is usually present, but sometimes it is inhibited by other substances secreted by the gland. When mixed with saliva, it repels at least some predators (it has been tested with a variety of cats, sun bears, and civets). Mothers cover their babies with saliva when they leave them, probably to repel predators. Nycticebus may also use biting as a way of delivering the toxin. The toxin apparently gets into the saliva when the animal licks its brachial glands. The narrow spaces between the teeth of the toothcomb in the lower jaw act as capillaries, drawing the saliva and toxin into whatever the animal is biting. While the activity and use of the toxin need to be examined in the field, native peoples of Indonesia regard Nycticebus as venomous (Alterman, 1995).