Lorisidae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iLorids
Slender loris (Loris spp.)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Suborder: Strepsirrhini Infraorder: Lorisiformes Family: Lorisidae Gray, 1821
Genera
Arctocebus Perodicticus Pseudopotto Loris Nycticebus

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

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

Lorides 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 partly 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.

Lorids are diurnal and arboreal. Unlike the closely related galagos, some have slow deliberate movements, whilst others can move with some speed across branches, also, they never jump. It was previously thought that they all moved slowly, however after using red light it was seen to be wrong, though if they hear or see any potential predator, they will freeze or move slowly. 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.

[edit] Classification

• 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

[edit] References

• Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 121-123. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.

Extant primate families by suborder
Strepsirrhini: Cheirogaleidae · Lemuridae · Lepilemuridae · Indriidae · Daubentoniidae · Lorisidae · Galagidae Haplorrhini: Tarsiidae · Cebidae · Aotidae · Pitheciidae · Atelidae · Cercopithecidae · Hylobatidae · Hominidae