The Greater Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang) is a small nocturnal primate found in southern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Sumatra, and surrounding islands. It most commonly inhabits primary and secondary lowland tropical forests, swamp forests, and forest edges, usually in tree canopies up to about 20 meters high. Occasionally, these animals are also found in urbanized areas, where they may search for food even near streetlights.
This primate is characterized by brown or dark reddish fur and a distinctive dark stripe running along its back. The greater slow loris is omnivorous—its diet mainly consists of plant phloem sap, nectar, and fruits, but it also feeds on insects, eggs, and tree gums. It obtains gums by gnawing tree bark with specialized “tooth comb” teeth. Due to its slow metabolism, it can neutralize some toxins found in plants.
The greater slow loris is one of the few venomous mammals and the only venomous primate. A secretion produced by a gland on its upper arm, when mixed with saliva, becomes a toxic substance that can be delivered through a bite. These animals live in trees and move slowly but are skilled canopy travelers. They are territorial yet social, communicating through vocalizations and scent marking.
The displayed specimens of a female and a male entered the museum collection in 1993. Both animals died in captivity in a traveling menagerie, and their taxidermy mounts were prepared by taxidermist V. Degutis.
