Extreme primates: Ecology and evolution of Asian lorises

Evol Anthropol. 2014 Sep-Oct;23(5):177-87. doi: 10.1002/evan.21425.

Abstract

Asia's slow and slender lorises (Nycticebus and Loris) are among nature's most extreme primates. Until recently, it was not understood why lorises have such huge forward-facing eyes, strange steady climbing locomotion, tiny dependent babies, and a bite that potentially can kill a human! Indeed, early studies described them as slow, solitary, and boring. Twenty years of field research now indicate that lorises are among the most intriguing mammal species.

Keywords: Loris; Nycticebus; primate evolution; venomous mammal.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthropology, Physical
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Female
  • Hand / anatomy & histology
  • Homing Behavior / physiology
  • Locomotion / physiology
  • Lorisidae / anatomy & histology*
  • Lorisidae / physiology*
  • Male
  • Tongue / anatomy & histology