Biodiversity
Brain
Genetics
Marine BiOLogy
MicrobiOLogy
PaleontOLogy
ZoOLogy
AnthropOLogy
ArchaeOLogy
Astronomy
Climate Change
Earth
Physics
Water
frighten off predators
see at night
attract a mate
Correct!
The pygmy loris is nocturnal, and its large eyes help it see well in darkness. These huge, round eyes also give the pygmy loris a constantly surprised look!
Scientific Name: Nycticebus pygmaeus
Size: 7-8 inches and about a pound
Habitat: forests of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, southern China
Diet: fruits, insects, small animals
Characteristics: small, nocturnal primate with large eyes and short, thick fur
Threats: habitat loss, hunting
Cool fact: Living in groups with a social structure, they sometimes sleep in groups in the trees.
The pygmy loris has very large eyes, which help it:
The pygmy loris is at risk. One threat is the loss of its forest habitat. But another major threat is hunting. Large numbers are caught in the wild because:
they are used in traditional medicines
they are sold as pets
both of these
Correct!
Some lorises are sold as pets in places as far away as the United States. Scientists with the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation are working with experts in Vietnam to study, catalogue, and protect these rare primates.
A mother pygmy loris carries her newborn for the first several days of its life. She carries the newborn:
on her back
on her belly
in a "pouch"
Correct!
A newborn pygmy loris clings to the mother's belly. After a few days, she will leave the infant on a branch while she searches for food.
One way that pygmy lorises defend themselves is by releasing a strong-smelling substance.
Fact
OR
Fiction
?
Fact
They release this smelly substance, kind of like sweat, from their forearms. When it's mixed with the loris's saliva, it becomes toxic.
“
It's hard to research nocturnal animals because they only move at night and you can't observe them nearly as easily as primates that are active during the day.
„
Martha M. Hurley, conservation biologist