| Author: Peter Del Bosque
Founder of Socialeaf, Peter's bio can be found by clicking on this Google+ link.
Now, we must first understand the difference between an organism that is poisonous versus one that is venomous. The difference is that it has everything to do in the way the toxic chemical is distributed.
For example, if the only way an organism’s toxic chemical can enter you blood stream is through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact, then the organism is considered poisonous. Some examples of poisonous organisms are, puffer fish, hemlock, hyacinth, poison dart frogs, and Monarch butterflies to name a few.
If the organisms’ toxic chemical is directly injected into you via teeth, spines, stingers or nematocycsts (stinging cells), then the organisms is considered venomous. Some examples of venomous organisms are Box Jellyfish, Black Widow spiders (including the Brown widow and Red widow spiders), the blue ringed octopus, and the stone fish.
With that said, let’s explore how the Slow Loris uses its toxicity.
First of all it is a highly unpredictable animal with needle like teeth on their lower jaw. The Slow Loris uses these teeth to inflict a highly painful bite. This bite although painful, can’t actually be used to inject venom into the victim. Its teeth however, can be used as a tool to make puncture wounds into the victim to help transfer a toxic chemical it produces on the insides of its elbows. The Slow Loris licks the chemical from these arm glands into its mouth where it mixes the toxic chemical with its saliva to create a sort of toxic soup that can be used to infect a bite puncture wound.
So, now that we know the difference between poisonous organisms versus venomous organisms, we can safely come to the conclusion that the Bornean Slow Loris is in fact poisonous and not venomous.
While many animals are poisonous or venomous, there are relatively very few that are mammals.
Here is a list of mammals that are venomous, the Cuban Solenodon, the platypus, shrews, the European Mole and the Vampire Bat.
Here’s a list of poisonous mammals, the Slow Loris, the Hedgehog, and the African Crested Rat.
The rather unusual branch of the primate order who just so happen to be poisonous are the cute little Slow Loris.
There are 8 known species of these adorable looking animals.
· Bengal slow loris (N. bengalensis)
· Bornean slow loris (N. menagensis)
· Javan slow loris (N. javanicus)
· Pygmy slow loris (N. pygmaeus)
· Sunda slow loris (N. coucang)
· N. kayan
These particular species look rather similar however they can be distinguished according to DNA analysis, geographic location and color patterns on their fur. It’s curious to think of how similar the Loris’s physical characteristics are to sloths. They are similar to sloths in that they are slow, have small heads and have legs that are equal in length to their arms. You must also be very careful in dealing with these animals because despite their meek appearance, Loris’ have very sharp needle like teeth whereas sloth have long razor sharp claws.
The slow Loris species can be found only in Asian territory, from South Asia to South East Asia. More specifically they can be found in Bangladesh, the Philippines, parts of China, the island of Java, Laos, Vietnam, and Singapore to name a few. They are certainly scattered in and around these geographic locations and unfortunately due to their close proximity to human civilization they are becoming highly threatened.
Their numbers are drastically falling because as local human population increases, the demand for human habitable territory stretches into the pristine forests. Vast areas of land where these nocturnal creatures reside are being decimated to accommodate human dwellings. The Loris have little to no chance of escaping “progress” Their meek size and their slow moving abilities are no match for log cutters and bulldozers. To further pour salt into their wound, many Asian Shamans and healers use the Slow Loris for their ancient medicine.
In Borneo, some tribes believe that Loris’s act like a heavenly gatekeeper for each person who dies. They believe a Loris will be waiting to welcome them into the gates of heaven.
Also Loris’s are being used in traditional rituals to help with magic. People who believe in this practice will use the body of a Loris dead or alive, to bury somewhere near or around their house or someone else’s to be used either as a good luck charm or a curse.
If the Slow Loris and it’s 7 other Loris cousins are to remain on this earth for us to love and enjoy, we must be vigilant in our efforts to protect their habitats from further destruction. We must find ways to help educate the native people who cohabitate with these cute animals about the importance of protecting them. Of course it’s not an easy effort, but you can start by informing everyone you know. Make sure to share this article with friends, family and organizations that need to learn about the plight of the Slow Loris. Also you can contact and donate time or money to organizations that work directly with protecting these creatures.
Here are some important resources for you to consider.
· The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand
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