IMG_9609C-2(W) Juvenile Sunda Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang) hanging on its favorite fruit tree

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IUCN Red List (2020): Endangered

Location: Highland of Pahang, Malaysia

 

The thick, short body fur of Slow Loris varies between species and may be grey, buff, brown or orange. They have short tails of around 1 or 2 cm in length.

 

There are now at least eight that are considered valid:

Sunda slow loris (N. coucang),

Bengal slow loris (N. bengalensis),

Pygmy slow loris (N. pygmaeus),

Javan slow loris (N. javanicus),

Philippine slow loris (N. menagensis),

Bangka slow loris (N. bancanus),

Bornean slow loris (N. borneanus), and

Kayan River slow loris (N. kayan).

 

Medical significance facts:

Slow loris are known for their venomous bite and are the only venomous primates. The toxin is obtained by licking

its glands on their arm/elbow, and the secretion is activated by mixing with saliva. According to a study, their toxic bite is meant for self-defense from would-be predators, and the toxin is also applied to their fur during grooming as a form of protection for their infants.

 

To date, there have been two published cases of slow loris bite in humans. This case report illustrates a case of anaphylactic shock following a bite of a wild Kayan slow loris (Nycticebus kayan) to a young man at Mulu District, in a remote area of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The patient developed dyspnoea (feeling of suffocation, swollen lips and cramp-like sensations over both hands). He subsequently developed syncope (fainting or passing out) and hypotension. The patient was clinically stable following intramuscular injection of adrenaline 0.5 mg stat dose (Utap et al., 2019) europepmc.org/article/med/31421666

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