Class: Mammalia

Order: Primates

Scientific Name: Nycticebus coucang

Range: Bangladesh eastward through many Southeast Asia islands to southern Philippines

Habitat: Tropical rainforests

Diet: Wild: Leaves, fruit, buds, insects, bird eggs, honey Zoo: Fruit, vegetables, nuts, primate diet, live crickets, monkey chow soaked in fruit juice

Gestation: about 193 days

Litter: 1

Description: These prosimians are about 1 foot long and weigh 1-4 lbs. The tail is vestigial, their fur is short, thick and woolly. . For protection the slow loris has big black marks on its face which increase the apparent size of its eyes. It can sometimes scare off a predator by staring at it.Slow lorises probably do not see well in the dark in spite of their very large eyes. They rely on their nose and ears. A slow moving animal has a good chance to catch the many insects that make up a good portion of its diet. Insect eyes are very good at detecting motion so a very slow moving animal is invisible to insects. When there is need, a slow loris can move rather quickly. Slow lorises have a marked aversion to daylight, spending the day rolled up in balls hidden in dense foliage. Adult males are strongly territorial and will not tolerate the presence of other males. They use urine to mark boundaries.

Where in the Zoo? I can be found in the Second Floor Exhibits at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.