Fun Javan Slow Loris Facts For Kids

The Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus) is a strepsirrhine primate and a species of slow loris endemic to the western and most of the central parts of Indonesia's island of Java.

While it was first described as a distinct species, it was long considered a subspecies of the Sunda slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) until morphological and genetic reassessments in the 2000s led to its elevation to full species status.

The Sunda slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) from Indonesia, Thailand, and other parts of Southeast Asia and the Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis), an Asian species from South East Asia, are closely related to this species.

There are about eight Southeast Asian species of lorises. However, all species of lorises are arboreal (tree-dwelling), nocturnal, and Endangered, as stated by the IUCN. Being arboreal, they climb up vines at night and sleep by the day. However, illegal smuggling and poaching have led to a sharp decline in the numbers of this species.

For more relatable content, check out these river otter facts and European otter facts for kids.

Javan Slow Loris Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Javan slow loris?

The Javan slow loris or the Nycticebus javanicus is a strepsirrhine primate. It is a species of slow loris that is native to the central and western portions of the Javan islands in Indonesia. A pygmy slow loris is also a type of slow loris.

What class of animal does a Javan slow loris belong to?

The Javan slow loris (N javanicus) is a strepsirrhine primate that belongs to the class Mammalia. It is a type of loris.

How many Javan slow lorises are there in the world?

Illegal poaching for the exotic pet trade and occasionally for their primate body parts being used for herbal medicine has resulted in a sharp reduction in the Javan slow loris population. The loss of habitat is another major threat to this Indonesian species of slow lorises.

The remaining species are sparse, and habitat destruction is a significant threat too.

Because of these factors, their conservation status has been classified Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Moreover, it was also named on 'The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates' from 2008 to 2010 as a severe threat to its existence was acknowledged.

This species is protected by Indonesian law and has been listed on CITES Appendix I since June 2007.

This means that the Javan slow loris (N javanicus) has clearly been earmarked as Critically Endangered. Poaching is a threat that persists despite all these protective measures and its existence being in many protected areas; animal conservation regulations are poorly executed at certain levels, which is why this is an endangered primate and the population continues to decline.

Where does a Javan slow loris live?

Javan slow lorises (N javanicus) are primates whose distribution range is primary and secondary forests along with mangrove and bamboo forests, and chocolate plantations of Java, Indonesia.

They can be primarily found in the Western part of Java, whereas the Sunda slow loris (N coucang), which is also another Indonesian species of loris, is found in Sumatra and the Malay peninsula.

What is a Javan slow loris's habitat?

Javan slow lorises (N javanicus) are primates whose habitats and distribution range consist of primary and secondary forests along with mangrove and bamboo forests of Java, Indonesia.

Who do Javan slow lorises live with?

Slow lorises are solitary mammals, according to research. They mostly live alone with their young, but they can also be found in pairs.

While they do not live in immediate contact with other sluggish lorises, they do live in near proximity to them. They communicate with each other using olfactory signaling in the form of scent marking and whistling noises.

How long does a Javan slow loris live?

Even in captivity, Javan slow lorises have been known to live up to 25 years.

How do they reproduce?

Slow lorises are dioecious (males and females are separated) and polygamous, reproducing all year. Females are sexually active and able to replicate when they are 17-21 months old. Males will start reproducing as soon as they are ten months old.

Slow lorises can take anywhere from three to seven minutes to mate. Following conception, there is a six-month gestation cycle (average 191 days) before the birth of one, probably two offspring.

These offspring are placental, and by the time they are born, they are fully grown. In a female loris, the time between births is around 16 months. However, over the last three generations, their numbers have declined by over 80%

What is their conservation status?

The Javan slow loris has been classified under the IUCN red list of Critically Endangered animals. The Sunda slow loris (N Coucang), a close relative of the Javan slow loris, has been classified an Endangered species by IUCN instead of Critically Endangered as in the case of the Javan slow loris.

Javan Slow Loris Fun Facts

What do Javan slow lorises look like?

The Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus) was previously thought to be a subspecies of the Sunda slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) but was finally classified as separate species in the 2000s. Hair length and, to a lesser degree, coloration distinguish two types of the genus.

It has a conspicuous white diamond pattern on its forehead, consisting of a distinct stripe that runs through its head and forks into the eyes and ears. Their fur is generally gray or brown and is very soft.

The Javan slow loris has a head-to-body length of around 8.66 in (22 cm) and has a weight of around 7.2 oz (200 g). Their movement is quite similar to a snake.

How cute are they?

Javan slow lorises are very cute. They are very soft and fudgy and have the most beautiful eyes, which make them even cuter. Because of this very reason, they are poached to be kept as pets, resulting in a loss of their population and their conservation status being Critically Endangered.

How do they communicate?

They communicate with each other using olfactory signaling in the form of scent marking and whistling noises. Slow lorises use their brachial glands and urine to mark their territories. A normally quiet slow loris can often call out to others in times of threat, mating, or baby-to-mother contact.

How big is a Javan slow loris?

Javan slow lorises are primates weighing about 7.2 oz (200 g). These primates are not very big. The males are around 8.66 in (22 cm) long, which is lesser than others of this species. The Sunda slow loris (N Coucang) is, however slightly larger.

How fast can a Javan slow loris run?

Slow lorises are slow, but they can cover 5 mi (8 km) in a single night. That's quite a long way for such a sluggish being. Nycticebus species have muscles that enable them to stand still for long periods of time. A slow loris movement pattern is similar to movements made by a snake.

How much does a Javan slow loris weigh?

An average Javan slow loris has a weight of around 7.2 oz (200 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Due to the lack of specific names, they are generally referred to as male and female Javan slow lorises.

What would you call a baby Javan slow loris?

There is no separate term for a baby Javan slow loris. They are referred to as baby Javan slow lorises.

Slow lorises are known to be born with their eyes wide open and the courage and capacity to grasp branches. They will spend the first seven weeks of their life with their mother.

Except for when the mother is scouting for food, the baby slow loris clings onto the mother's stomach no matter where she goes. Before going out in search of food, the mother cleans and nurses her children.

Babies will nurse for roughly six months after birth but will be able to consume solid food within four weeks. By the age of two years, infants would have grown and are able to climb across branches.

What do they eat?

Melon, lizards, larvae, termites, and chocolate seeds constitute the food eaten by the Javan slow loris. It also consumes the gum of trees in the Albizia genus, belonging to the Fabaceae family of legumes, and palms from the Arenga genus (family Arecaceae).

Are they active?

Since the Javan slow loris is a nocturnal primate that is more active at night and rests more during the day, it has a low proportion of resting activity.

Would they make a good pet?

Slow lorises captured from the wild for the pet trade have their teeth extracted to keep them from biting — a job performed using haphazard equipment with no discomfort or infection prevention. Pet lorises are often kept awake throughout the day, stressing them out and affecting their large cute pupils.

When a loris goes for a tiny umbrella, it's because it's desperately looking for a tree limb to cling onto.

Overall, the loris is a bad pet to keep. If they don't suffer as a result of being trafficked, they die in captivity from malnutrition, poor care, or illnesses.

Did you know...

The name 'loris' comes from the Dutch word 'clown,' which most likely refers to the species' facial features.

Their range of distribution is spread across the mangrove and bamboo forests and chocolate plantations of Java, Indonesia.

Are slow lorises endangered?

The Javan slow loris is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN in its red list. This Indonesian species of slow lorises are highly endangered.

The major threats to the Javan slow loris are habitat loss and cutting away of trees from their native forests because of human beings' extensive use of land.

Capture for use in the pet trade, and to a lesser degree for traditional traditions and folk remedies, are other risks to this species.

They are smuggled to various parts of the world, such as the Middle East and Japan. They develop a lot of physical problems when poached to different areas, and the only way to help them survive is to return them to the wild where they would have minimal issues with readjustment.

Lorises have a shared ancestor with 'primitive' primates like Africa's bushbabies and Madagascar's lemurs, with the Lorisiidae family having originated and developed in the same time period. The IUCN has also listed the Sunda slow lorises (Nycticebus coucang) as an Endangered species.

Even Nycticebus coucang is a species considered to be endangered because of the fact that they are losing their habitat because of deforestation and wildlife trade.

Why is a slow loris poisonous?

The only venomous primate animal on the planet apart from the platypus is the loris. It is only found on the Javan island of Indonesia.

When combined with loris saliva, the stinky, sticky fluid from the glands on the inner surface of the elbows becomes poisonous. It deters nocturnal mammal predators and even insect pests by applying this toxic concoction on itself and its young. These toxins are so deadly that they can even kill a human being.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our Indian elephant facts and African bush elephant facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Javan slow loris coloring pages.