Lorisidae

Taxobox
name = LoridsMSW3 Groves|pages=121-123|id=12100101]
fossil_range = Early Miocene to Recent

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image_width = 220px
image_caption = Slender loris ("Loris" spp.)
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Primates
subordo = Strepsirrhini
infraordo = Lorisiformes
familia = Lorisidae
familia_authority = Gray, 1821
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Arctocebus"
"Perodicticus"
"Pseudopotto"
"Loris"
"Nycticebus"

Lorisidae (or sometimes Loridae) is a family of strepsirrhine primates. The lorids are all slim arboreal animals and include the lorises, pottos and angwantibos.

Lorids live in tropical, central Africa as well as in south and southeast Asia.

Lorids have a close, woolly fur which is usually grey or brown colored, darker on the top side. The eyes are large and face forward. The ears are small and often partially hidden in the fur. The thumbs are opposable and the index finger is short. The second toe of the hind legs has a fine claw for grooming, typical for strepsirrhines. Their tails are short or are missing completely. They grow to a length of 17 to 40 cm and a weight of between 0.3 and 2 kg, depending on the species. Their dental formula is similar to that of lemurs:dentition2|2.1.3.3|2.1.3.3

Lorids are diurnal and arboreal. Unlike the closely related galagos, lorids never jump. Some have slow deliberate movements, whilst others can move with some speed across branches. It was previously thought that all lorids moved slowly, but investigations using red light proved this to be wrong. Nonetheless, even the faster species freeze or move slowly if they hear or see any potential predator. This habit of remaining motionless whilst in danger is successful only because of the leafy environment of their jungle home, which helps to conceal their true position.cite book |editor=Macdonald, D.|author= Charles-Dominique, Pierre|year=1984 |title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= 332-337|isbn= 0-87196-871-1] With their strong hands they clasp at the branches and cannot be removed without significant force. Most lorids are solitary or live in small family groups.

The main diet of most lorids consists of insects, but they also consume bird eggs and small vertebrates as well as fruits and sap.

Lorids have a gestation period of four to six months and give birth to two young. These often clasp themselves to the belly of the mother or wait in nests, while the mother goes to search for food. After three to nine months - depending upon species - they are weaned and are fully mature within ten to eighteen months. The life expectancy of the lorises can be to up to 20 years.

Classification

There are five genera and nine species of lorid.

* ORDER PRIMATES
** Suborder Strepsirrhini: non-tarsier prosimians
*** Family Lemuridae: lemurs
*** Family Lepilemuridae: sportive lemurs
*** Family Cheirogaleidae: dwarf and mouse lemurs
*** Family Indriidae: woolly lemurs and allies
*** Family Daubentoniidae: Aye-aye
*** Family Lorisidae
**** Subfamily Perodicticinae
***** Genus "Arctocebus"
****** Calabar Angwantibo, "Arctocebus calabarensis"
****** Golden Angwantibo, "Arctocebus aureus"
***** Genus "Perodicticus"
****** Potto, "Perodicticus potto"
***** Genus "Pseudopotto"
****** False Potto, "Pseudopotto martini"
**** Subfamily Lorinae
***** Genus "Loris"
****** Red Slender Loris, "Loris tardigradus"
****** Gray Slender Loris, "Loris lydekkerianus"
***** Genus "Nycticebus"
****** Sunda Loris, "Nycticebus coucang"
****** Bengal Slow Loris, "Nycticebus bengalensis"
****** Pygmy Slow Loris, "Nycticebus pygmaeus"
*** Family Galagidae: galagos
** Suborder Haplorrhini: tarsiers, monkeys and apes

References