Wildlifeof India
Gray Slender Loris
Monkeys, Gibbons & Lorises
Photo: Dr. K.A.I. Nekaris · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Loris lydekkerianus
Basic stats
Diet
Almost entirely insects, more than half of it ants and termites
Habitat
Dry semi-deciduous, evergreen and montane forest and scrub, including acacia and tamarind scrub near farmland; to about 2,000m
Range
Southern India, roughly between the Tapti and Godavari rivers south to the coast, and Sri Lanka
Litter size
1–2 young
Gestation period
About 165–170 days
Size
About 23–24cm
Weight
180–290g
The grey slender loris is a small, tailless primate with grey or reddish fur above, a darker stripe down the middle of the back and a white belly. The large eyes sit close together and face forward, the snout is small and pointed, and the limbs are extremely slender. Males weigh 180–290 g and measure about 24 cm. It is native to India and Sri Lanka (Animal Diversity Web; Wikipedia, general species account).
In south-western India it occurs roughly between the Tapti and Godavari rivers south to the coast, including the dry eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. In southern India the nominate race is often found in acacia and tamarind forest or scrub near cultivated land. It is nocturnal, arboreal and forages alone, sleeping by day in groups of up to seven. Nearly all of its food is insects. Its reproductive rate is among the lowest of any primate under 500 g (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Gray Slender Loris eat?
- Almost entirely insects, more than half of it ants and termites
- What habitat does the Gray Slender Loris live in?
- Dry semi-deciduous, evergreen and montane forest and scrub, including acacia and tamarind scrub near farmland; to about 2,000m
- Where is the Gray Slender Loris found?
- Southern India, roughly between the Tapti and Godavari rivers south to the coast, and Sri Lanka
- What is the litter size of the Gray Slender Loris?
- 1–2 young
- How long is the gestation period of the Gray Slender Loris?
- About 165–170 days
- How big is the Gray Slender Loris?
- About 23–24cm
- How much does the Gray Slender Loris weigh?
- 180–290g