To look at a slow loris, one would be prone to make an exclamation of adoration, but Javan slow lorises (Nycticebus javanicus) are also armed and dangerous. They have a venom which is rare for a primate, and they use it on each other in territorial and mating battles which is even rarer. Only five species are known to use venom intraspecifically, including the duckbill platypus. A study published in
Current Biology reveals the use of venom in Javan lorises. A scientist at Oxford Brookes Univeristy, Anna Nekaris, and her colleagues studied the lorises using radio collars for eight years. The study showed that around 20% of the collarded lorises, both male and females, had fresh bite wounds. (33% females, 57% males) These wounds can be serious since their venom is necrotic and their sharp bite can penetrate skin and bone.
Lorises' teeth are grooved which allows venomous saliva to wick upward. Venom
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| credit: Little Fireface Project |
is thereby infected into a bite wound, which can be quite deep since lorises bite hard,
which poses a threat to humans. These characteristics make the slow loris a poor choice for a pet, nevertheless, slow lorises are sold in the Asian pet trade.
[photo] Often their teeth are removed, but the venomous saliva in their mouth remains. Adding to their repulsive repertoire: they smell bad. The nine species of loris are listed as endangered or vulnerable. The Javan slow loris is critically endangered, threatened both by the illegal pet trade as well as habitat loss.
A slow loris appears cuddly. Their looks are deceiving because the primate is very territorial and uses its teeth freely. In fights over mates, they can kill. They defend patches of gum trees, which provide a sticky resin that ls an excellent source of food. As primates, they are intelligent, and lead rich social lives in the wild. They form lasting bonds with their mates. In the forest, lorises live in family units where both parents and the older siblings care for the young, who spend as much as three years at home. Subjecting them to captivity, often alone, is psychologically stressful. Ms. Nekaris advises, "Get a gerbil", if you want a pet.
