Three new species of venomous, two-tongued primates have recently been identified. All represent different types of slow loris, a nocturnal animal with big eyes, a teddy bear face and a deadly bite. The primates, described in the American Journal of Primatology, had originally been grouped with another known slow loris, Nycticebus menegensis. This original, single species contained animals with significantly different features, lead author Rachel Munds, a University of Missouri doctoral student in anthropology, told Discovery News."The differences that are documented at present include particularly the darkness and extent of dark coloring around the eyes, the shape and darkness of a 'cap' on the head, the overall light or darkness of the hair, as well as body size and length," co-author Susan Ford, vice president of the Midwest Primate Interest Group, explained to Discovery News. Ford is also an associate dean and director of the Graduate School at Southern Illinois University.
類似的物種以上.
The four species of slow loris all hail from the Indonesian island of Borneo. N. menegensis, seen here, and N. kayan live in the northeastern part of the island. The two other species, N. bancanus and N. borneanus, dwell in the southwestern portion."Borneo is a large island that has been extensively isolated," co-author Anna Nekaris, who is a professor in Primate Conservation at Oxford Brookes University, told Discovery News. "During the glacial periods, rainforest remained and the large rivers allowed species to remain isolated from each other. The north is more species-rich in terms of endemics than the rest of the island."
"[In Borneo] the rivers, mountains and lack of forests in some areas probably contributed to the (slow loris) species divisions," Munds continued.She and her colleagues have not yet performed genetic testing of the primates. "It is difficult to catch wild slow lorises," Munds noted. The researchers have obtained samples from museum specimens, but "the problem with using museum tissue is that it is difficult to extract DNA, but hopefully we will succeed," she added. The researchers are confident that the studied animals do indeed represent different species. As Nekaris reminded, the body sizes alone are a huge indicator. The four lorises range in weight from far less than a pound to 1.5 pounds.
The slow loris is the only venomous primate and one of only a few venomous mammals, Munds said. The bite can severely injure or kill victims. It is also toxic to parasites. "Producing venom is such a rare mammalian feature that almost certainly it was not characteristic of the ancestral primate or the ancestor of lorises and lemurs," Ford said. "Rather, this is a unique characteristic that has evolved only in Asian slow lorises among primates."
"Lorises can kill small lizards, birds, bats and geckos as well as a myriad of insects," Nekaris added. "Most slow lorises, however, specialize on gouging for gum and consuming nectar containing high amounts of noxious secondary compounds."Unfortunately, many of these endangered primates undergo painful tooth extractions to remove their venomous bite. The animals are then illegally sold as pets.
If treat it like a pet is still acceptable! Fortunately the lorises were not found in China otherwise it may become a delicious dish!作者: wolfwolf 時間: 2012-12-18 02:10 PM
I can't believe a mammal has toxins. Looks amazing!作者: vandas 時間: 2012-12-18 02:11 PM
Cute... but poisonous: New species of slow loris found in jungles of Borneo as experts warn more needs to be done to protect them
The slow loris is the only venomous primate - and could even kill a human
But because of its cute appearance it is targeted by the animal trade
A new species of slow loris has been discovered in Borneo.
Conservationists hope the finding will add impetus to efforts to protect the double-tongued animals.
Two previously known subspecies have also been accorded full species status.
But experts are warning that dividing the animals into four distinct species means the risk of extinction is greater than previously believed for the animals but could help efforts to protect the unusual primate.
The loris is the only venomous primate, producing a flesh-rotting poison that can be fatal to humans.
But they are also very cute - and in fact are known as 'jungle gremlins' - which makes them a target for the animal trade.
Captured animals often have their canine and incisor teeth pulled out before being sold on as pets, in a bid to protect their potential owner.
Harming the animals this way, though, can quickly lead to their death, as the toothless primates are unable to feed properly.
'Four separate species are harder to protect than one, since each species needs to maintain its population numbers and have sufficient forest habitat,' said lead author Rachel Munds, MU doctoral student in anthropology in the College of Arts and Science.
'Unfortunately, in addition to habitat loss to deforestation, there is a booming black market demand for the animals. They are sold as pets, used as props for tourist photos or dismembered for use in traditional Asian medicines.'
According to Munds, slow lorises are not domesticated and are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. She contends that keeping the animals as pets is cruel and that domesticating them is not feasible.
Write caption here
Got it licked: The slow loris has a serrated sublingua - under-tongue - of a slow loris sticks out beneath the primary tongue
A team of researchers, led by Munds and Professor Anna Nekaris of Oxford Brookes University, observed the animals living in the forests of Borneo and the Philippines and found that the original single species contained animals with significantly different body sizes, fur thickness, habitats and facial markings.
Museum specimens, photographs and live animals helped primatologists parse out four species from the original one.
But the new species of slow loris, named Nycticebus kayan, has gone unrecognised until now, in part due to its nocturnal lifestyle.
Animals that are active at night rely less on visual clues, and can therefore appear more similar to one another.
So the scientists had to look hard to discover the differences between the new species, and focused primarly on facial markings.
And the researchers found there to be four species of slow loris in the Philippines and Borneo, each with their own, subtly different but distinct head markings.
Conservatrion: Rachel Munds (left), doctoral student in anthropology at Missouri University, and Anna Nekaris, primatology professor at Oxford Brookes University, pose with a tarsier, another species of nocturnal primate
Previously there was thought to be just one species, called N. menagensis.
Two of these new species, N. bancanus and N. borneanus, were previously considered subspecies of N. menagensis. N. kayan, is new to science.
'In Borneo in particular, from where three of the new species hail, this will mean that three new lorises will be added as threatened to some degree on the IUCN Red List of threatened species,' said Prof Nekaris.
She warned of the threats to the animals that comes from their trade, driven by demand for lorises as pets
'YouTube videos of lorises being tickled, holding umbrellas or eating with forks have become wildly popular,' said Anna Nekaris, study co-author, primatology professor at Oxford Brookes University and MU graduate. 'CNN recently promoted loris videos as "feel good" entertainment. In truth, the lorises gripping forks or umbrellas were simply desperate to hold something.
'The arboreal animals are adapted to spending their lives in trees constantly clutching branches. Pet keepers rarely provide enough climbing structures for them.'
The animals also are used in Asian traditional medicines. The methods used to extract the medicines can be exceedingly violent, according to Nekaris, who also is director of the slow loris advocacy organisation, Little Fireface Project.
Cruel trade: Slow lorises for sale in Möng La, Shan, Myanmar
Sick: The teeth of a juvenile slow loris being removed by an animal trafficker作者: hkgorchid 時間: 2012-12-18 03:35 PM
[轉貼]叢林小精靈 可愛但毒性致命 婆羅洲發現新品種懶猴!
Discovery: A new species of slow loris - the Nycticebus k ...
vandas 發表於 2012-12-18 02:20 PM
Thanks for such detailed information & pictures!!作者: jack1n9 時間: 2012-12-18 06:27 PM
Amazing!!! Thank you for the generous great sharing, may God bless you .... 作者: 2475 時間: 2012-12-18 09:44 PM