Gray slender loris

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Gray slender loris[1]
Slender Loris.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Lorisidae
Genus: Loris
Species: L. lydekkerianus
Binomial name
Loris lydekkerianus
Cabrera, 1908

L. l. lydekkerianus (Cabrera, 1908)
L. l. malabaricus (Wroughton, 1917)
L. l. nordicus (Osman Hill, 1933)
L. l. grandis (Osman Hill and Phillips, 1932)
L. l. nycticeboides (Osman Hill, 1942)

Gray Slender Loris area.png
Gray slender loris range

The gray slender loris (Loris lydekkerianus) is a species of primate in the family Loridae. It is found in India and Sri Lanka. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.[2] The species used to be considered as Loris tardigradus lydekkerianus but Loris tardigradus is now a separate species found in Sri Lanka. This species has been divided into several geographically separated subspecies.[3]

The Indian subspecies include:

  • Malabar gray slender loris, Loris lydekkerianus malabaricus - found in the Western Ghats of India
  • Mysore gray slender loris, Loris lydekkerianus lydekkerianus - found in the southern plains of Mysore and Tamil Nadu extending into the Eastern Ghats[4]

The Sri Lankan subspecies include:

  • Northern Ceylonese slender loris, Loris lydekkerianus nordicus
  • Highland slender loris, Loris lydekkerianus grandis

In Sri Lankan subspecies, Loris lydekkerianus grandis has short ears, and a heart-shaped face. Basal hairs of the vent of Loris lydekkerianus grandis are black and whereas those of Loris lydekkerianus nordicus are white in color.


The gray slender loris is nocturnal and arboreal.

Despite the slew of studies on their behaviour and ecology in the last decade, they still remain among the least known of all primate species.[5] Like other lorises, they are nocturnal and emerge from their roost cavities only at dusk. They are mainly insectivorous. In southern India, the nominate race is often found in acacia and tamarind dominated forests or scrubs near cultivations.[4] Males hold larger home ranges than females. They are usually solitary while foraging, and it is rare for them to be seen in pairs or groups. However they may roost in groups of up to 7[2] that include young of the recent and older litters. Adult males and females have individual home ranges and sleeping group associations are usually composed of a female and her offspring.[5] Communicate with a range of vocalizations and also use urine and scent marking.[6][7] Also, olfaction and visual signaling at a distance of at least 20m.[8] Lorises interact throughout the night and sleep in groups during the daytime. Females with exclusive home ranges, rarely interact with other females except mothers and daughters. Females are more affiliated with males that are in the same sleeping area. Males tend to be more aggressive to other males that are not associated with their sleeping area. However, there is positive interaction with males that are within the sleeping area. The males also tend to infants that are in the sleeping area and sleeping arrangements are the only social behavior Lorises take part in.[8]


Lorises are found to be promiscuous, multiple males competing for one female for mating. Mating occurs biannually, April–June, and October–December.[5] Although mating occurs twice a year, lorises can only breed once a year. One estrus cycle will fail and another will begin approximately 2 weeks following. Gestation is approximately 170 days. Twins are very common among lorises. The reproductive tract and ovarian cycle reflect the general mammalian plans. As far as lactation, four teats develop and produce milk before the infant is born. After, giving birth females are non-receptive to males and care for their young.[9]

Geographic Distribution[edit]

Found endemically in India and Sri Lanka, lorises are distributed along the Western Ghats in Kerala, Karnataka and Western Tamil Nadu continuing along the Eastern Ghats to southern Andhra Pradesh. Lorises prefer dry zones, with scrub and dry tree species. They are also found near plantations, and cultivated areas near taller forests.[10]

Threats and Conservation[edit]

Although considered a Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and classified under Schedule I (Part 1) of the Indian Wildlife Act, 1972, the threat to these primates is increasing. Loris is used to make love potions, treat leprosy and eye ailments. Some villagers keep lorises as pets, but because they are difficult to maintain there is high mortality. Some cities have them captive in zoos, and astrologers use them to pick out tarot cards.[11] Food preference for lorises is insects. Farmlands, which are high in cattle waste, produce large amounts of insects. This is ideal for the species and because these animals are competing with humans over food they aren't not afraid of interaction. There is a high interaction occurrence with humans and lorises around cultivated/farmlands.[4] Habitat fragmentation is also a threat to the loris population, as well as loss of acacia trees, which is a preferred tree species for the loris.[10] Conservation efforts are developing and more research on conservation efforts are ongoing.[4]


  1. ^ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M, eds. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 122. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 
  2. ^ a b c Nekaris, A., Singh, M. & Kumar Chhangani, A. (2008). Loris lydekkerianus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  3. ^ Perera, M. Sandun J. (2008). "A Review of the Distribution of Grey Slender Loris (Loris lydekkerianus) in Sri Lanka" (PDF). Primate Conservation 23: 89–96. doi:10.1896/052.023.0110. 
  4. ^ a b c d Singh, M., Lindburg, D.G., Udhayan, A., Kumar, M.A., and Kumara, H.N. 1999. Status survey of slender loris Loris tardigradus lydekkerianus in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India. Oryx 33(1):31-37.
  5. ^ a b c 5. Radhakrishna, Sindhu. “Behavioural Variation in the Mysore Slender Loris Loris lydekkerianus lydekkerianus.” Current Science (Bangalore) 99.9 (2010): 1226-1232.
  6. ^ Ramakrishna, Sindhu ; Singh Mewa ; (2002)Home range and ranging pattern in the slender loris (Loris tardigradus lydekkerianus). Primates 43(3):237-248
  7. ^ Sindhu Radhakrishna, Mewa Singha (2002) Social Behaviour of the Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus lydekkerianus). Folia Primatologica 73(4):181-196 doi:10.1159/000065426 PDF
  8. ^ a b 6.Nekaris, KA. “Social Lives of Adult Mysore Slender Lorises (Loris lydekkerianus lydekkerianus.” American Journal of Primatology 68.12 (2006): 1171-1182.
  9. ^ 4.Ramaswami, L. S. “Some Aspects of Reproduction of the Female Slender Loris, Loris tardigradus lydekkerianus Cabr.” Acta Zoologica 46 (1965): 257-273.
  10. ^ a b 3.Kumara, H. N. “Distribution, Habitat Correlates, and Conservation of Loris lydekkerianus in Karnataka, India.” International Journal of Primatology 27.4 (2006): 941-969.
  11. ^ 1. Kanagavel, Arun. “Moolah, Misfortune or Spinsterhood? The Plight of Slender Loris Lydekkerianus in Southern India.” Journal of Threatened Taxa 5.1 (2013): 3585-3588.

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