Lemur loris animal. Habitat of the loris lemur

Thick lorises (popularly known as lemur loris) are a genus of funny, big-eyed animals belonging to the order of wet-nosed primates, which are often mistakenly called lemurs.

From a zoological point of view, this is incorrect, since they belong to the infaorder Lorisiformes, and not lemuriformes. In addition, lemurs, as is known, are a family of prosimians that live exclusively in Madagascar, and slow lorises are distributed quite far from them - in South and Southeast Asia.The main external feature that distinguishes lorises from lemurs is the absence of a long tail.They have it very small, reaching 1.5-2 cm. English speaking countries representatives of this genus are called “slow”, which is not at all surprising, because they are famous for their indifference to sudden movements.

Slow lorises are one of five genera of wild animals in the Loriidae family, consisting of eight species, three of which have been formed quite recently. The main species include the following species: Bengal loris, slow loris, Javan loris, Kalimantan loris and dwarf or small slow loris. In 2013, the study of some individuals that previously belonged to the Kalimantan lorises allowed us to identify three more new species - N. borneanus, N. kayan and N. bancanus.

All representatives of the genus are included in the Red Book as vulnerable or endangered species. The export of slow lorises outside their native countries is prohibited by law and can result in fines and even imprisonment.

Appearance of loris lemurs

The size of slow lorises can vary depending on the species - body length ranges from 18 to 38 cm, and weight - from 300 grams to 1.5 kg. They are nocturnal animals, so nature has endowed them with large eyes with a reflective layer called tapetum, which allows them to see in the dark. The head is rounded, with a short muzzle. The eyes of all representatives of the genus are bordered by dark “glasses” and separated by a light stripe. Perhaps it is precisely because of this appearance, reminiscent of a clown mask, that scientists gave the animals the appropriate name - translated from Dutch “loeris” means “clown”.

The fur of slow lorises is soft and thick, its color varies from grayish to yellow, and the hair on the abdomen is lighter. Another one distinguishing feature- a dark stripe running from the neck along the entire spine. The ears are small and round. The hind and forelimbs are well developed, almost equal in length. All toes of slow lorises have nails, with the exception of the second toes of the hind limbs, which are equipped with “cosmetic” claws intended for grooming.

Habitat of the loris lemur

Lori lives in the crowns of tall trees, where she finds shelter, food and protection from enemies, and almost never descends to the ground. They do not build any nests, and the young are born on any suitable branch. The animal is born with open eyes, covered with thick fur and immediately clings to the mother's fur. The first days she carries him on her stomach and feeds him with milk. He can also “travel”, clinging to the skin of his father or older brother, and his mother only takes him to feed him.

Lorises are nocturnal animals. During the day they sleep sweetly, curled up into a ball. The feet hold the branch tightly, and the head is hidden between the “legs”. From the outside it looks like a motionless fluffy ball. To rest, they settle in a hollow, on a tree branch, or even better, in a convenient fork between the branches. And at night they go hunting (it is because of the nocturnal lifestyle that the loris has such large eyes compared to the body). The loris lemur has very good hearing and in the silence of the night they can hear a subtle rustling sound. The animals are so careful that they move along the branches without shaking the leaves, freezing for a long time at the slightest danger.

Surprisingly This primate is poisonous! Hidden on the animal’s elbows are serious weapons – glands with poison. In case of danger, the loris sucks out the deadly substance and mixes it with saliva. Then the animal's bite becomes fatal. But the animal rarely uses such a serious “weapon”.

Loriids are a family of primates with only seven species. Initially, lorises were considered sloths due to their inherent slowness and sluggishness. In 1766, the French naturalist J. Buffon denied that these animals belonged to the suborder of sloths and dubbed them lemurs, that is, prosimians. Later it turned out that this classification is not entirely accurate: loris - separate species primates. However, the name “lemur” has already firmly established itself with the species and is used to this day.

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Zoological description

Appearance of the lemur loris

The description of Loriids includes a striking distinctive feature - large oval-shaped eyes slightly protruding above the surface of the muzzle. Like most predators, these animals have binocular vision, that is, the eyes are located in front in the same plane. The ears are small and inconspicuous. Acute hearing and good vision help navigate in the dark.

The body of the animals is densely covered with short, soft hair; the color is dominated by gray and brown shades. On the back, the cover is usually darker and smoother.

The slow loris does not have a tail; in other species, the length of the tail does not exceed 1 cm. As is typical for primates, the thumb is opposed to the palm for greater grip. These tree dwellers have well-developed muscles in the forelimbs: with their fingers they are able to grasp a branch tightly.

The body length of an adult varies between 15-40 cm and depends on the specific species:

1. 1. Small (dwarf) loris – 17-21 cm.
2. 2. Javan loris – 24-40 cm.
3. 3. Slender loris – 15-25 cm with a maximum weight of only 320 g.
4. 4. Slow loris – 18-40 cm and weighing 1.5 kg.
5. 5. Slow loris - 26-38 cm with 0.8-1.6 kg.

The characteristics of the individual, body size, thickness and quality of wool depend on the level of maintenance, care, and timely provision of medical care.

Life expectancy is from 15 to 20 years.



Habitat

The natural range of Loriids is rainforests Central Africa, South and Southeast Asia:

1. 1. Small loris - forested areas of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.
2. 2. Javan loris is endemic to the island of Java.
3. 3. Slender loris - South India and Sri Lanka.
4. 4. Thick loris - northeastern regions of India, Indonesia, Bangladesh. Found in northern China and the Philippines.
5. 5. Slow loris – Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Java, Sumatra.

They do not live in Madagascar or in the arid regions of Africa.

On this moment All species of the Loriaceae family are listed in the Red Book as vulnerable and on the verge of extinction.

Character and behavioral characteristics

Lory lemurs are nocturnal predators. During the day they sleep, and in the dark they show vital activity. The animals behave very calmly, make slow, careful movements, never jump on branches, but smoothly intercept them with their paws. When hunting or in contact with other individuals, they make various sounds.

Animals prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle. In their natural habitat, they mark their territory and show aggression towards strangers as potential competitors. Animals can unite into small species groups, but this rarely happens.

Lorises adapt to non-critical changes environment, falling into a long hibernation. This allows them to survive unfavorable periods: famine or natural disasters. In case of danger, lemurs remain motionless for a long time: this is how their defense mechanism works.

With proper care, the animals show curiosity, behave friendly and playful. Can't stand bright light.

Choosing and purchasing a pet

The protective status prohibits the export of all loris species from their natural habitat, as well as their trade. Therefore, transportation of animals is carried out illegally; they are distributed as contraband goods. During transportation, animals are in unsuitable conditions, where they have time to exchange diseases or injure each other. Upon arrival, most of the animals turn out to be unhealthy.

When purchasing, it is important to examine the lemur, stroke its fur with your fingers and make sure there are no wounds, abrasions, or ulcers. The coat itself should be thick and soft, without bald spots or damage.

The eyes of a healthy loris are transparent, shiny, and without discharge. The teeth are white and strong.

Private breeders sell six-month-old individuals for $100-200. In nurseries and pet stores, the price can be 10-20 times higher, depending on the type of animal and the care provided to it. The establishment is required to provide a veterinary passport, a certificate of origin, and a certificate of health of the animal.

Content Rules

Housing



An example of good arrangement of an enclosure - enough living space, easy-to-climb structures, use of natural materials

The best home for a lemur would be a large, spacious cage or an enclosure for medium-sized primates. It is important that the ceilings are high - this feature will allow the animals to feel comfortable and safe while sleeping. The width is not important: the slow and calm loris does not require too much space for active racing and games.

It is necessary to bring the living conditions in the cage closer to the conditions of a tropical forest, to roughly recreate the landscape, to provide the space with tree branches and strong vines, which the animal is used to climbing in the wild. In the absence of living vegetation, strong ropes and a rope ladder will do. A pair of horizontal wooden bars will make it easier for the animal to move.

The cage should be located away from wires, curtains, indoor plants so that the animal cannot reach surrounding objects with its paws.

Lemurs are reluctant to get used to the tray, so the bottom of the enclosure must be covered with a thick layer of sawdust or granulated animal litter.

External conditions

The indoor climate should correspond to the tropical one: heat(20-25 ⁰С) and high humidity. It is better to place the enclosure further from windows, doors and cracks, in the recess of the room, where the pet will not be afraid of a draft.

It is important to monitor the constancy of indicators - temperature changes are fraught with the appearance of stress and colds.

Cohabitation



Consequences of introducing two competing individuals into one enclosure

Lorises feel most comfortable alone. At home, they can get along in small groups, but it is important to provide each animal with enough personal space.

You should not allow other pets near the lemur - it can eat small ornamental birds, and mistake large animals for potential enemies.

Nutrition

Under natural conditions, lorises consume both plant and animal foods, i.e. they are omnivores. The natural diet of lemurs includes:

• insects and arthropods (including poisonous ones);
• small vertebrates;
• flower nectar;
• tree resin, sap, bark;
• greenery;
• soft fruits, flowering parts of fruit trees;
• eggs of lizards and birds.

Specialized dry food for loris lemurs has not yet been developed, so the owner must be ready to provide his exotic pet with access to fresh food at any time.

At home they eat:

• pears, apples, plums;
• papaya, melon pulp;
• grapes, medium-ripe bananas and kiwi;
• cherries, raspberries;
• cucumbers, carrots.

It is important to give food in small pieces.

The diet must be supplemented with protein foods: quail eggs, caterpillars, dragonflies, cockroaches, large insects. A valuable source of energy is shrimp. Before feeding, they need to be scalded in boiling water.

Treats for the animal will include baby foods (fruit purees and sugar-free curds), dried berries and fruits, nuts and biscuits. However, you should not abuse them - there is a high risk of developing diabetes.

Feeding with sausage, baked goods, and fermented milk products should be avoided. Eating such food has a negative impact on the health of the animal.

Reproduction

Lory lemurs are very selective in terms of family building. They are not able to accept every relative as a breeding partner. If there is no suitable candidate nearby, the animal will prefer to remain alone than to form an alliance with just anyone.

Pregnancy, depending on the type, lasts 4-6 months. Most often, one individual is born, but there are also twins. Newborn lemurs are firmly attached to the thick fur on the mother’s belly, next to the mammary glands. They live like this for 3-5 months.

Animals become independent at the age of 8-10 months, and by the age of one and a half years they acquire sexual maturity.

Possible diseases

The primate's body is similar in structure to that of humans, and is therefore susceptible to the same diseases. The lemur loris is vulnerable to hepatitis, herpes, tuberculosis and measles. In this regard, it is important to carry out timely vaccination of pets.

Most often, Loriids experience the following health problems:

1. 1. Diabetes. Excessive consumption of sweet foods and treats is a cause of diabetes. Without proper treatment, the animal quickly withers and dies.
2. 2. Gastrointestinal disorders. Intestinal problems are especially dangerous for lemurs, as there is a risk of rupture of the thin walls. Lorises, like cats, love to lick their fur. A paste for dissolving hair (“Kittimalt” is the most affordable on the market) will help prevent indigestion and blockage of the tract with hairballs. The product must be given once a week. Serving size is a third of a teaspoon.
3. 3. Cold. Even a slight drop in temperature or a slight draft leads to the development of a cold. To prevent this process, it is important to change the bedding in the animal’s house daily and dry it at the bottom of the cage - dampness provokes freezing. When you notice the first symptoms (nasal runny and sneezing), it is important to contact your veterinarian. Inaction is fraught with complications such as pneumonia.
4. 4. Otitis. A type of cold. The animal shows anxiety, eats poorly, and protects its ears from touch. Later, discharge from the ears may occur.
5. 5. Tartar. When fed exclusively soft food, plaque deposits on the teeth of lemurs, which then turns into tartar. This is followed by partial or complete loss of teeth. As a result, the pet cannot eat anything and weakens from nutritional deficiency.
6. 6. Stress. Strong feelings caused by a change in environment poor nutrition or care, damage the pet’s immunity and make it vulnerable to new diseases.

If loris behave unkindly, raise their paws up, bite - something makes them nervous. With such gestures they protect themselves from potential danger.

In case of any deviations from the norm of behavior, loss of appetite, detection of discharge on mucous membranes, ulcers and small wounds, baldness, etc., it is important to immediately contact a veterinarian. Only a qualified doctor will be able to identify the causes of your pet’s illness and provide assistance.

Advantages and disadvantages

The bug-eyed animal looks cute and unusual, which makes it attractive to potential owners. But later it turns out that it has many disadvantages:

Flaw	Description
Demandingness	It is quite difficult to provide a pet with adequate living conditions, since the climate in mid-latitude apartments differs from the tropical one. Maintaining a comfortable environment takes a lot of effort, money and time. And even when organizing the best conditions Loris may experience discomfort and be stressed. This beast is not intended for home confinement
Boredom	Laurie wakes up only at 8-9 pm. During the day it is boring with a sleeping pet, but at night it can wake up its owners with rustling and loud sounds.
Smell	Lorises mark their territory with urine secretions. These marks cannot be removed - their disappearance causes anxiety and stress in the pet, which leads to a decrease in immunity and puts his life at risk
Indiscipline	Pets of this breed cannot be trained, especially amateur training, and do not respond to commands. It is difficult to train them to do any actions. It will also not be possible to punish a guilty pet - he does not realize his guilt
Health Hazard	Venom glands are located on the lemur's elbows. Loris venom is used to coat the fur of lorises to protect them from predators and hunting. These secretions even affect humans. Exposure to the poison leads to skin irritation, suffocation, and sometimes death. The thick fur of animals during frequent shedding becomes a strong allergen. In addition, lorises often bite if they feel uncomfortable. Their bites are non-lethal but painful
Lack of emotional contact	Lori is a wild forest inhabitant that does not need anyone’s care and affection. Even if he is given the best care, he will not develop an emotional attachment to his owner, as companion animals like dogs and cats do.
Endangered species	In captivity, lores are uncomfortable; outside their native environment, they cannot live fully and produce strong, healthy offspring. All species of these animals are on the verge of extinction, and their removal from tropical forests for the purpose of sale accelerates the process of extermination of the family

The only positive qualities of the loris lemur include the interest of keeping an exotic animal in the house, the opportunity to stand out and be known as an extraordinary and courageous person.

Lemur loris– medium-sized with huge pitiful eyes, which became the reason for numerous expressions of sympathy. A furry little animal (or its look) remains forever in a person’s heart and memory. An extremely lazy creature is one of the mammals on the planet. Scientists are still amazed by the fact that lorises have managed to survive to this day in conditions of fierce animal competition (despite their laziness).

Origin of the species and description

Loris are representatives of the family (the most progressive class of placental mammals). The family includes more than 400 species of creatures. It belongs to the animal kingdom, the phylum of chordates, and the subphylum of vertebrates. The distribution area of ​​representatives of primates (except humans) is considered to be predominantly subtropical and tropical regions of Northern and, as well as and. According to historical data, the first primates appeared on earth about 65 million years ago. And the first lemur-like creatures are dated more than 30 million years ago.

Video: Lemur lory

Loris lemurs are close relatives (a family of small primates, numbering about 25 species), with which they form the infraorder Loriformes. The current number of lemur species has exceeded one hundred.

Lemurs are divided into the following types:

• slender loris;
• lemur loris (or slow loris);
• dwarf or small loris.

Animals are classified according to their size and weight.

Interesting fact: Until 1766, lorises belonged to the group of sloths (due to the peculiarities of their life activity). J. Buffon classified these animals as lemurs. Zoologists classify them not as lemurs, but as primates. However, the name “Lemur Lori” is firmly attached to the animal.

Appearance and features

The popularity of furry animals around the world is due to their amazing appearance. The main feature of the loris is its large, expressive eyes, evoking sympathy and pity. At the same time, the animals’ ears are very small and practically invisible. Lemurs of this class resemble something between sloths (they are often called “semi-monkeys”).

To key features appearance worth mentioning:

• wool - very soft and fluffy wool;
• color - usually reddish-brown or brown;
• fingers - the thumbs are opposed to the others, which belong to vestigial organs;
• limbs - the forelimbs are significantly longer than the hind limbs;
• the tail is an element of the segmented body of animals that is quite long;
• Dimensions - the minimum body length of an adult is 15 centimeters, the maximum is 40 centimeters, while the weight of the animals varies from 250 grams to 1.5 kilograms.

Coat color and thickness, as well as general characteristics appearance largely depends on living conditions, timely care and nutrition.

Interesting fact: The eyes of the loris are surrounded by a frame resembling glasses. Thanks to this feature, the animals are often associated with a clown. By the way, translated from Dutch “Loeris” means “clown”.

Where does the loris lemur live?

The homeland of the animals is (a country in the South) and (or Ceylon - an island state). Today you can meet representatives of this group of lemurs in:

• Central Africa is a part of Africa located on the equatorial and subequatorial strip. The territory is different big amount savannas and gallery forests (where loris lemurs live);
• South Asia is a part of Asia that includes Sri Lanka, the Indo-Ghana lowland and other smaller islands;
• Southeast Asia is a macro-region located between India and.

Favorite habitats of animals are: the island of Java, regions and, northeastern regions of India, northern China, Borneo and other tropical parts of the above regions.

Interesting fact: Early on, lorises could be found on, as well as in some arid regions of Africa. Due to the extreme decline in numbers, the animals no longer live in these regions.

All representatives of the lemur order live in. Only here the most comfortable conditions for their life have been created - a large number of trees (for living), fertile plant crops (for food).

Now you know where does the lemur live?. Let's see what he eats.

What does the loris lemur eat?

Loris lemurs eat both plant and animal foods. However, most animals prefer plant fruits. This is due to their laziness and lack of sufficient hunting opportunities. Small individuals are content with flower pollen; adult representatives can dine on tree bark or its resinous secretions.

Basically, all lorises feed on bamboo shoots, coconut milk, dates, bananas, leaves of various trees and other fruits. At the same time, some individuals (more active) supplement their main diet with insects, small lizards, chameleons and frogs. Observations of these cute animals showed that they can quite easily dine on small birds or their eggs.

Interesting fact: Many people believe that lorises feed exclusively on bananas. This is wrong. These fruits are classified as sweets and are consumed by animals much less often than others. For lemurs, bananas are more of a treat than a daily meal.

A vegetable diet rarely provides significant energy replenishment. In this regard, the animals lead a passive lifestyle. IN unnatural environment Loris habitats are fed with boiled and chopped bird meat, vegetables (heat treatment is optional), mushrooms, seafood and insects. Sweet fruits are a delicacy for the animals living in the zoo (this is due to concern for the health of lemurs and maintaining their natural sugar level). In foreign menageries, lorises feed on specialized mixtures containing all the microelements necessary for normal life and stable well-being.

Features of character and lifestyle

Loris have absorbed the life characteristics of sloths and monkeys. These little animals are extremely lazy. They behave very calmly, thinking about every step (which is what causes excessive slowness). Animals can remain motionless for a very long period (most often this happens for the purpose of protection from a predator).

And fluffy lemurs are active only at night. During the day, the animals sleep and replenish their energy. At dusk, lorises go hunting for fruits and small insects. At the same time, they do not jump between trees, but carefully move from branch to branch (with the help of tenacious fingers and tail). Impeccable orientation in the dark is possible thanks to the animals’ acute hearing and special vision.

Lemurs live both alone and in groups. They approach the choice of partners extremely carefully. Not every candidate becomes a full member of the couple. Families are formed from one male and several females. Its representatives live in close proximity to each other. It is important that Loris do not tolerate bright light. Therefore, if you somehow end up with this animal at home (despite the ban on keeping it at home), provide it with dim lighting.

When hunting and encountering other representatives animal fauna Lorises make quite loud sounds. They sound like chirping sounds as well as snoring sounds. When threatened seriously, they begin to bite their offender. In extremely dangerous situations, they hit the enemy with their elbows, which contain strong poison. Animals resort to this method extremely rarely.

Interesting fact: Under poor conditions (sharp climate change or lack of food), lorises hibernate.

Under normal conditions and with proper care, the animals are quite curious and playful. In zoos they do not hide or run wild. However, at home (if not kept correctly), animals become withdrawn and embittered.

Social structure and reproduction

By the age of one and a half years, male loris lemurs are ready to reproduce new offspring. Sexual maturity of females occurs a little later - at two years. In this case, pairs do not form immediately. The male and female are selective in choosing a partner, choosing “the one.” After direct fertilization, pregnancy occurs, which lasts a little more than 6 months. At one time, a female can give birth to no more than 2 cubs. Lemurs are born with their eyes open and covered with sparse fur. They immediately cling with strong fingers to the mother’s stomach, where they spend the first one and a half to two months of their lives.

Interesting fact: Baby lorises do not sit motionless on their mother. They often wander between their parents, as well as other family members, clinging to the thick fur of their “relatives”. At the same time, they periodically return to their mother for feeding.

The female feeds her cub with milk for 2 months. The father also takes care of the children. Both parents support the child until he is fully grown (which usually happens at one to one and a half years). The animals live up to 14 years in natural habitats. At the same time, with artificial life support, the age can be increased to 25 years.

Interesting fact: In 2013, a Russian citizen was detained for trying to resell a loris animal. He was sentenced to an administrative fine of 2.5 thousand rubles. The animal itself was confiscated. Detailed information can be found on the Internet. Case No. 5-308/14 is made available in the public domain.

Natural enemies of loris lemurs

The worst predators that are dangerous to loris lemurs include:

• - large from the hawk family. They pose a danger mainly to small individuals of loris. They are considered one of the main predators capable of killing loris when they live in a tree. Due to their slowness and caution, lemurs rarely catch the eye of flying enemies. But it’s hard for defenseless cubs to hide from the eyes of a hawk;
• – representatives. Such enemies hunt down prey, strangle it and consume it without dividing it into parts. Such a predator is dangerous for lemurs that descend to the ground in search of food;
• – apes. Thanks to their ability to skillfully move along branches, these individuals amaze lemurs in their natural environment - in trees. In addition, they hunt on the ground, thereby surrounding the animals from all sides. Orangutans are considered the main enemies of the cute and fluffy lorises.

Mostly hunting for lemurs is carried out at night - when the animals begin to be active. Movements and transitions between trees give the lorises away, making them visible to predators.

One of the worst enemies for animals is man himself.

The following human activities kill the loris:

• deforestation - people deprive lemurs of their homes;
• environmental pollution - the consequence of global waste emissions is not only the deterioration of plant growth, but also the death of lemurs;
• catching animals - recently it has been very fashionable to acquire unusual pets;

In addition to the main enemies, any predators can pose a threat to the loris. This happens at those moments when the lemurs descend to the ground. Because of their slowness, they cannot quickly escape from an attacker, which is why they are considered quite easy prey for the inhabitants of tropical forests.

Population and species status

Scientists do not undertake to indicate the exact number of loris lemurs living in forests today. This is caused by their wide distribution and constant change (both up and down). But due to the fashion for domesticating such pets, their numbers are significantly reduced. This is confirmed by reliable data from zoological services. People buy these animals on black markets for thousands of dollars.

The choice of such a pet is obvious, because the loris:

• very quiet animals that make sounds only when there is a real threat to their life;
• have hair that does not cause allergies;
• communicate well with other pets without posing a threat to them;
• do not have an unpleasant odor and rarely require bathing;
• They are distinguished by their nails not requiring regular trimming, and lazy animals do not use them to damage their owners’ furniture.

It is because of such advantages that the animals die. In captivity (at home) they barely live to be 5 years old. This happens due to the basic illiteracy of their owners and the lack of any desire to create the necessary conditions for lemurs.

Scientists started talking about the problem of the rapid disappearance of a large number of loris representatives 2-3 years ago. However, today the situation has become critical. Due to the decline in the number of lemurs, the sale of representatives of this species was completely prohibited. Unfortunately, state laws banning the catch and sale of lorises do not stop the indigenous residents of the countries where the animals live. For one representative you can get at least 1.5 thousand dollars on the black market. Therefore, the lemur fishery continues to this day.

Conservation of loris lemurs

Due to the rapid death of small and cute animals, lorises were brought into, and all their species, according to the World Health Fund wildlife, are on the verge of extinction and are subject to increased protection from humans. Loris are also subject to special protection in the territory. To increase the population of lemurs of this species, several laws were put forward to limit the sale, maintenance and storage of animals.

Zoological wildlife conservation organizations are actively calling for the conservation of the loris lemur population in its natural environment. Violators of the laws will face a fine and/or correctional labor. Legal keeping of animals is possible only in state zoos. No private nursery has the right to keep or breed lorises, even if the ultimate goal is not to sell the animal. Any document that a black seller offers for the lemur loris is nothing more than a “filka certificate.” No official “passports” are issued for this category of animals!

Lemur loris- cute and funny animals that can be playful only in one case - with the right attitude towards them. The number of animals is gradually decreasing. Their population is taken under state protection. Today, every seller and buyer of a lemur should think about whether its activity is worth the extermination of an entire species.

Loriids belong to a fairly large family of primates. These arboreal inhabitants are relatives of the galagidae family, and together form the infra-order Lorisiformes. All members of this genus are classified as vulnerable or endangered species.

Lemur loris in natural conditions

The slow and very cautious animal is predominantly nocturnal. and quite rarely joins groups. This family includes four genera and about ten species, but the slow loris is the most popular.

This is interesting! Around the eyes of representatives of the genus there is a dark border, reminiscent of glasses and separated by a light stripe, due to which scientists gave the name “loeris”, which means “clown” in Dutch.

Characteristics and description

Loris have a thick and soft coat, which is most often gray or brown in color with a darker shade on the back. Characteristic is the presence of large eyes and small ears, which can be hidden under the fur.

The thumbs are opposed to the others, and the index fingers can be classified as vestigial organs. The tail is short or completely absent. Depending on the species, the body length varies between 17-40 cm, with a body weight of 0.3-2.0 kg.

The most common types in nature are:

• small or pygmy loris with a body length of 18-21 cm;
• slow loris with a body length of 26-38 cm;
• Javan loris with a body length of 24-38 cm;
• slow loris with a body length of 18-38.

This is interesting! In nature, the animal periodically falls into prolonged hibernation or the so-called state of physiological torpor, which allows the animal to relatively easily survive hunger or adverse external influences of weather factors.

Habitat

Loriaceae in natural conditions inhabit tropical forests in Central Africa, and are also common in some areas of South and Southeast Asian countries. The little loris lives in the forest areas of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The area of ​​distribution of the slow loris is the territory of the Malay Peninsula, the islands of Sumatra, Java and Borneo.

The Javan loris is endemic. It inhabits the central and western part Indonesian island of Java. Slow lorises are native to the rainforests of Bangladesh, northeastern India, Indochina and western Indonesia, and are also found on the northern edge of China and the eastern Philippines.

Lemur food

Under natural conditions, the standard diet Lori's nutrition includes both living organisms and food of plant origin. The exotic animal feeds on various crickets, lizards, small birds and their eggs.

The peculiarity of the loris is its ability to eat even poisonous caterpillars and insects, as well as consume the resinous secretions of tropical trees. Plant foods also play an important role in the lemur’s diet. The animal easily eats fruits, vegetables, herbs, as well as flowering parts of various tropical plants.

Features of reproduction

An exotic animal is characterized by selectivity in finding a mate and in creating a family.. The lemur loris can search for its mate for a long time, remaining alone for a long period of time. The gestation period slightly exceeds six months, after which one or two cubs are born. Born babies are already covered with relatively thick fur, which serves as excellent protection from adverse external influences. The weight of the cub usually does not exceed 100-120 grams, but may vary slightly depending on the species characteristics of the animal.

This is interesting! Not only adults communicate through a certain set of sound signals, but also baby lorises, which, when discomfort occurs, are capable of emitting a fairly loud chirp, and upon hearing it, the female hurries to her baby.

For one and a half to two months, females carry the cubs on themselves. The small animals tenaciously cling to the thick fur on their mother’s belly, but can periodically move to the father’s fur, returning to the female only for feeding. The duration of lactation of the loris lemur, as a rule, does not exceed five months. Little lemurs acquire independence only at the age of one and a half years, when they are fully strengthened and receive all the vital skills from their parents.

Enemies in nature

Lorises live in the crowns of tall tropical trees, where the animal is able to find shelter, food and protection from many enemies, so this exotic animal rarely descends to the ground. To avoid becoming prey to various predators, lemurs use four limbs to move from branch to branch.

The unusual animal is endowed with a very strong grip, which lasts throughout the day and does not allow the animal to fall to the ground from fatigue. This feature is due special structure blood vessels in the extremities. The high intensity of blood circulation and metabolic processes prolongs the time of movement of the loris to maximum values.

This is interesting! During the first half of the year, more than half of the loris cubs die not only from various diseases, but also become prey to hawks or poachers, which makes it possible to classify the animal as an endangered species.

Smooth and slow movements - characteristic difference lori. This behavioral feature often helps the animal to hide from natural enemies, the main of which are nocturnal predator birds, as well as snakes. On earth, almost any large predator poses a danger to lemurs. Main natural enemies Slow lorises include orangutans, as well as variable crested eagles and large pythons.

Recently, lorises, along with many other exotic representatives of the animal world, have been suffering greatly from active fishing, deforestation of forest areas, and significant intensification of human activity even in the most remote corners globe. The very high demand of exotic connoisseurs for lemurs has greatly increased the flow of unauthorized trade in many tropical animals, including lorises.

Despite the fact that in natural conditions lorises are usually solitary, in captivity, such animals very willingly live in pairs or small groups, so lemurs will need to equip a fairly spacious enclosure. If a terrarium is chosen as a home, then there should be approximately one cubic meter of usable area per adult.

Contents in room conditions Several males at once often becomes the cause of conflicts, which often end not only in the stress of the animal, but also in deep, severe lacerations. Among other things, males tend to mark their territory, so they mark objects indoors with urine and constantly update their scent marks. Removing such marks causes stress for the pet and can even cause the death of the loris.

Diet, nutrition of loris

Today, owners of such exotic animals do not have the opportunity to use fully prepared dry food for feeding lorises, so the animal’s main diet should include the following foods daily:

• pears or apples;
• fresh cucumbers and carrots;
• papaya or melon;
• not too ripe bananas and kiwis;
• raspberries and cherries;
• quail eggs.

It is also very important to supplement the loris’ diet with insects, which can include caterpillars, dragonflies, cockroaches and crickets, and shrimp scalded with boiling water. You can occasionally treat your pet with baby cottage cheese, vegetable and fruit baby purees, nuts, crackers, milk and unsweetened cookies.

Important! Remember that as a result of stress and disturbances in the feeding diet, diabetes can develop, and without proper and timely treatment, the lemur dies very quickly.

Features of care

Of course, not every lover of exotic pets has the opportunity to create optimal living conditions for the loris. Many owners of such tropical animals are disappointed that lemurs are able to sleep curled up in a ball for the whole day. Also, not everyone can get used to the fact that the bites of an angry loris are very painful, and there are even several cases where such a bite provoked anaphylactic shock.

However, there are a significant number of advantages to keeping such an exotic animal at home:

• there is no unpleasant odor from the animal’s fur;
• gets along well with other pets;
• does not require regular water procedures;
• animal fur does not cause asthmatic attacks or allergic reactions;
• there is no damage to furniture, wallpaper, wiring or interior items;
• adult individuals do not require mandatory castration and sterilization;
• There is no need to systematically trim the claws.

It is important to remember that the loris lemur is a wild animal and, even in a domesticated state, does not allow itself to be trained to a litter tray, can bite and does not at all respond to the nickname given to it by its owner.

Reproduction in captivity

Sexual maturity of male lorises occurs at the age of 17-20 months, and females become sexually mature a little later, at about 18-24 months. At home, loris lemurs breed extremely rarely and very reluctantly. If in its natural habitat a female gives birth only once a year, then at home, even when creating the most comfortable stay, the animal can give birth to one or two cubs in its entire life.

According to the observations of those who raise lorises at home for a long time, it is very difficult to notice pregnancy in a female, so the owner, as a rule, discovers a “new” pet only after its birth. After about six months, the cub is separated from maternal care, and at the age of one and a half years, the loris becomes old enough to live independently. In conditions of captivity, during creation for a pet maximum comfort, an exotic animal can live for two decades, and sometimes more.

A few years ago, a real boom swept across our country, and many animal lovers began to purchase loris to keep in city apartments or a private house. A significant part of the markets in southeast Asia was flooded with a huge number of these animals, which began to be massively imported to many countries for absolutely ridiculous money. The long and difficult journey is accompanied by the death of many animals as a result of severe exhaustion, thirst or hypothermia, so acquiring a healthy exotic is quite difficult.

Important! When choosing, be sure to perform a visual inspection of the animal. The coat should be quite fluffy. A healthy individual has white, strong teeth. The eyes should be shiny, without any discharge.

Tropical animals sold in nurseries must have a veterinary passport, as well as a health certificate and a certificate of origin. The average cost of an individual may vary depending on the species, rarity, age and growing conditions. Private breeders offer six-month-old lorises at prices ranging from 5-8 thousand rubles to three tens of thousands of rubles or more. Prices for an animal from a nursery start at 50 thousand rubles and can exceed 120 thousand rubles.