Also called Aka Dwarf Bradicebus
Tardigradus, Wind Monkey and Small Loris, it belongs to the Lorisidae family of
Primates order. Its Latin scientific name is Nycticebus pygmaeus, and English
name is Lesser Slow Loris or pygmy loris.
It is very
similar to Bradicebus Tardigradus, but smaller than -- only half as large as
Bradicebus tardigradus. It is 21 to 22.5 centimeters in body length, 1.2
centimeters in tail length, and 325 to 425 grams in weight. Its round
head has round and large eyes, with white mouth, nose, and lip but no cheek
pouch. The body hair is in thin eider shape, mostly orange russet. There is one
deep color line leading from mid-dorsal to vertex, and the belly and four limbs
are silver gray luster.
Its living environment and food habit are
similar to that of Bradicebus tardigradus. Scientific records on
distribution of Lesser Slow Loris in China (in 1986) showed that
several Lesser Slow Loris captured from Yunnan Province were at that time
considered as juveniles of Bradicebus Tardigradus, and one female among
them produced a baby. Its breeding habit is probably similar to that of
Bradicebus Tardigradus. It litters in February to March, and the breast-feeding
period is about 210 to 252 days.
Lesser Slow Loris
belongs to rare low-grade monkeyjolly, with a very
narrow distribution. In China it is only found in southern Yunnan
Province. Severely disturbed by human activities, it is in urgent need of
protection.