Lorisoidea is a superfamily of nocturnal primates. Members of this superfamily are called lorisoids, and include lorises, angwantibos, pottos, galagos, and bushbabies. Lorisoidea is one of two superfamilies that form the suborder Strepsirrhini, itself one of two suborders in the order Primates. They are found in Asia and Africa, generally in forests, though some species can be found in shrublands and savannas. They range in size from the Prince Demidoff's bushbaby, at 10 cm (4 in) plus a 15 cm (6 in) tail, to the West African potto, at 39 cm (15 in) plus a 10 cm (4 in) tail. Lorisoids primarily eat fruit, insects, and tree gums and resins. Most lorisoids do not have population estimates, but the ones that do range from 40 mature individuals to 500,000. Six species are categorized as endangered: the Bengal, pygmy, Sumatran, and Sunda slow lorises, the red slender loris, and the Rondo dwarf galago. A further two species are categorized as critically endangered: the Bangka slow loris and the Javan slow loris.

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Red slender loris (Loris tardigradus)

The thirty-five extant species of Lorisoidea are divided into two families: Galagidae, containing nineteen bushbaby and galago species divided between six genera, and Lorisidae, containing sixteen species divided between the three genera in the loris subfamily Lorisinae and the two genera of the angwantibo and potto subfamily Perodicticinae. Several extinct prehistoric lorisoid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.[1]

Conventions

Quick Facts Conservation status, EX ...
IUCN Red List categories
Conservation status
 EX Extinct (0 species)
 EW Extinct in the wild (0 species)
 CR Critically Endangered (2 species)
 EN Endangered (6 species)
 VU Vulnerable (4 species)
 NT Near threatened (7 species)
 LC Least concern (15 species)
Other categories
 DD Data deficient (1 species)
 NE Not evaluated (0 species)
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Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the lorisoid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted. All extinct genera, species, or subspecies listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol "".

Classification

The superfamily Lorisoidea consists of two extant families: Galagidae and Lorisidae. Galagidae contains nineteen species in six genera, while Lorisidae is divided into two subfamilies: Lorisinae, containing eleven species divided between three genera, and Perodicticinae, containing five species divided between two genera.

Family Galagidae

  • Genus Euoticus (needle-clawed bushbabies): two species
  • Genus Galago (lesser bushbabies): four species
  • Genus Galagoides (western dwarf galagos): three species
  • Genus Otolemur (greater galagos): two species
  • Genus Paragalago (eastern dwarf galagos): five species
  • Genus Sciurocheirus (squirrel galagos): three species

Family Lorisidae

Lorisoidea[2][3]  

Lorisoids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.[4]

Family Galagidae

More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Euoticus Gray, 1863 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Northern needle-clawed bushbaby

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E. pallidus
(Gray, 1863)

Two subspecies
  • E. p. pallidus (Bioko needle-clawed bushbaby)
  • E. p. talboti (Nigeria needle-clawed bushbaby)
Western equatorial Africa
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Size: 18–33 cm (7–13 in) long, plus 28–31 cm (11–12 in) tail[5]

Habitat: Forest[6]

Diet: Tree gums and resins[6]
 NT 


Unknown Population declining[6]

Southern needle-clawed bushbaby

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E. elegantulus
(Conte, 1857)
Western equatorial Africa
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Size: 21–24 cm (8–9 in) long, plus 28–32 cm (11–13 in) tail[7]

Habitat: Forest[8]

Diet: Tree and liana gums and resins, as well as invertebrates[8]
 LC 


Unknown Unknown[8]

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More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Galago É Geoffroy, 1796 – four species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Dusky bushbaby


G. matschiei
Liburnau, 1917
Central Africa
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Size: 14–19 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 24–28 cm (9–11 in) tail[9]

Habitat: Forest[10]

Diet: Insects, fruit, flowers, and gum[9]
 LC 


Unknown Population declining[10]

Mohol bushbaby

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G. moholi
Smith, 1836
Central and southern Africa
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Size: 14–17 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 11–28 cm (4–11 in) tail[11]

Habitat: Savanna[12]

Diet: Arthropods, as well as tree gum and resin[11]
 LC 


Unknown Population steady[12]

Senegal bushbaby

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G. senegalensis
É Geoffroy, 1796

Four subspecies
  • G. s. braccatus (Kenya lesser bushbaby)
  • G. s. dunni (Ethiopia lesser bushbaby)
  • G. s. senegalensis (Senegal lesser bushbaby)
  • G. s. sotikae (Uganda lesser bushbaby)
Equatorial Africa (possible additional range in red)
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Size: 13–21 cm (5–8 in) long, plus 19–30 cm (7–12 in) tail[5]

Habitat: Forest and savanna[13]

Diet: Insects, as well as small birds, eggs, fruits, seeds, flowers, and tree gum[14]
 LC 


Unknown Population declining[13]

Somali bushbaby

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G. gallarum
Thomas, 1901
Eastern Africa
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Size: 13–20 cm (5–8 in) long, plus 20–30 cm (8–12 in) tail[5]

Habitat: Savanna[15]

Diet: Gum and invertebrates[5]
 LC 


Unknown Population steady[15]

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More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Galagoides A. Smith, 1833 – three species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Angolan dwarf galago


G. kumbirensis
Svensson et al., 2017
Angola in southwestern Africa
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Size: 14–18 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 17–21 cm (7–8 in) tail[16]

Habitat: Forest and shrubland[17]

Diet: Unknown[16]
 NT 


Unknown Unknown[17]

Prince Demidoff's bushbaby

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G. demidoff
Fischer von Waldheim, 1806
Western and central equatorial Africa
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Size: 10–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 15–21 cm (6–8 in) tail[18]

Habitat: Forest[19]

Diet: Insects, as well as fruit and gum[18]
 LC 


Unknown Population steady[19]

Thomas's bushbaby


G. thomasi
Elliot, 1907
Western and central equatorial Africa
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Size: 12–17 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 15–24 cm (6–9 in) tail[20]

Habitat: Forest[21]

Diet: Insects, as well as small vertebrates, fruit, and tree buds, leaves, and gum[20]
 LC 


Unknown Population steady[21]

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More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Otolemur Coquerel, 1859 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Brown greater galago

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O. crassicaudatus
É Geoffroy, 1812

Three subspecies
  • O. c. crassicaudatus (South African greater galago)
  • O. c. kirkii (Tanganyika greater galago)
  • O. c. monteiri (Silvery greater galago)
Southern Africa
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Size: 29–38 cm (11–15 in) long, plus 41–48 cm (16–19 in) tail[22]

Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland[23]

Diet: Gum and sap, as well as fruit and insects[22]
 LC 


Unknown Population steady[23]

Northern greater galago

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O. garnettii
(Ogilby, 1838)

Four subspecies
  • O. g. garnettii (Zanzibar greater galago)
  • O. g. kikuyuensis (Kikuyu greater galago)
  • O. g. lasiotis (White-tailed greater galago)
  • O. g. panganiensis (Pangani greater galago)
Eastern Africa
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Size: 23–34 cm (9–13 in) long, plus about 36 cm (14 in) tail[24]

Habitat: Forest[25]

Diet: Fruit and insects[24]
 LC 


Unknown Population declining[25]

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More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Paragalago Masters, Génin, Couette, Groves, Nash, Delpero, Pozzi, 2017 – five species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Grant's bushbaby

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P. granti
(Thomas & Wroughton, 1907)
Southeastern Africa
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Size: 14–19 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 20–27 cm (8–11 in) tail[5]

Habitat: Forest[26]

Diet: Invertebrates, fruit, gum, and flowers, as well as small birds[26]
 LC 


Unknown Population declining[26]

Kenya coast galago

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P. cocos
Heller, 1912
Southeastern Africa
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Size: 14–19 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 18–23 cm (7–9 in) tail[5]

Habitat: Forest[27]

Diet: Insects and fruit[28]
 LC 


Unknown Population declining[27]

Rondo dwarf galago


P. rondoensis
Honess, 1997
Scattered Tanzania in southeastern Africa
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Size: 10–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 17–18 cm (7 in) tail[28]

Habitat: Forest[29]

Diet: Insects, as well as fruit and gum[28]
 EN 


Unknown Population declining[29]

Uluguru bushbaby


P. orinus
Lawrence & Washburn, 1936
Southeastern Africa
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Size: 12–14 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 16–20 cm (6–8 in) tail[5]

Habitat: Forest[30]

Diet: Gum, nectar, invertebrates, and small vertebrates[5]
 VU 


Unknown Population declining[30]

Zanzibar bushbaby


P. zanzibaricus
(Matschie, 1893)

Two subspecies
  • P. z. udzungwensis (Udzungwa bushbaby)
  • P. z. zanzibaricus (Zanzibar bushbaby)
Scattered Tanzania
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Size: 14–15 cm (6–6 in) long, plus 12–15 cm (5–6 in) tail[31]

Habitat: Forest[32]

Diet: Fruit, insects, and gum[31]
 NT 


Unknown Population declining[32]

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More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Sciurocheirus Waterhouse, 1838 – three species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Bioko Allen's bushbaby

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S. alleni
(Waterhouse, 1838)

Two subspecies
Western equatorial Africa
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Size: 15–24 cm (6–9 in) long, plus 20–30 cm (8–12 in) tail[5]

Habitat: Forest[33]

Diet: Fruit, as well as insects and small mammals[34]
 NT 


Unknown Population declining[33]

Gabon bushbaby


S. gabonensis
Gray, 1863
Western equatorial Africa
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Size: 18–21 cm (7–8 in) long, plus 23–28 cm (9–11 in) tail[28]

Habitat: Forest[35]

Diet: Arthropods, insects, fruit, and gum[36]
 LC 


Unknown Unknown[35]

Makandé squirrel galago


S. makandensis
Ambrose, 2013
Gabon in western equatorial Africa
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Size: Unknown[28]

Habitat: Forest[37]

Diet: Unknown[28]
 DD 


Unknown Unknown[37]

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Family Lorisidae

Subfamily Lorisinae

More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Loris É Geoffroy, 1796 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Gray slender loris

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L. lydekkerianus
A. Cabrera, 1908

Four subspecies
  • L. l. grandis (Highland slender loris)
  • L. l. lydekkerianus (Mysore slender loris)
  • L. l. malabaricus (Malabar slender loris)
  • L. l. nordicus (Northern Ceylonese slender loris)
Southern India and Sri Lanka
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Size: 18–22 cm (7–9 in) long, with no tail[38]

Habitat: Forest[39]

Diet: Insects[40]
 NT 


Unknown Population declining[39]

Red slender loris

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L. tardigradus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Sri Lanka
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Size: 18–26 cm (7–10 in) long, with no tail[41]

Habitat: Forest[42]

Diet: Insects, as well as tree frogs, geckos, small birds, eggs, and fruit[41]
 EN 


2000–2300 Population declining[42]

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More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Nycticebus É Geoffroy, 1812 – eight species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Bangka slow loris


N. bancanus
(Lyon, 1906)
Borneo and Bangka Islands in southeastern Asia Size: About 26 cm (10 in) long, with no tail[43]

Habitat: Forest[44]

Diet: Insects, gum, nectar, and fruit[45]
 CR 


Unknown Population declining[44]

Bengal slow loris

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N. bengalensis
(Lacépède, 1800)
Southeastern Asia
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Size: 26–38 cm (10–15 in) long, with vestigial tail[46]

Habitat: Forest[47]

Diet: Resin and gum, as well as nectar, fruit, invertebrates, bark, and bird eggs[46]
 EN 


Unknown Population declining[47]

Bornean slow loris

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N. borneanus
(Lyon, 1906)
Borneo Size: About 26 cm (10 in) long, with no tail[43]

Habitat: Forest[48]

Diet: Insects, gum, nectar, and fruit[49]
 VU 


Unknown Population declining[48]

Javan slow loris

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N. javanicus
É Geoffroy, 1812
Java in southeastern Asia
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Size: 28–31 cm (11–12 in) long, with vestigial tail[50]

Habitat: Forest[51]

Diet: Nectar, gum, insects, fruit, lizards, and eggs[50]
 CR 


Unknown Population declining[51]

Kayan River slow loris

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N. kayan
Munds, Nekaris, Ford, 2013
Borneo Size: About 27 cm (11 in) long, with no tail[43]

Habitat: Forest[52]

Diet: Unknown[53]
 VU 


Unknown Population declining[52]

Philippine slow loris

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N. menagensis
Lydekker, 1893
Borneo and nearby islands
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Size: About 27 cm (11 in) long, with no tail[43]

Habitat: Forest[54]

Diet: Insects, nectar, gum, and fruit[55]
 VU 


Unknown Population declining[54]

Sumatran slow loris


N. hilleri
(Stone and Rehn, 1902)
Sumatra in southeastern Asia Size: 26–30 cm (10–12 in) long, with no tail[56]

Habitat: Forest[57]

Diet: Insects, nectar, gum, and fruit[57]
 EN 


Unknown Population declining[57]

Sunda slow loris

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N. coucang
(Boddaert, 1785)
Southeastern Asia
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Size: 27–38 cm (11–15 in) long, with no tail[58]

Habitat: Forest[59]

Diet: Sap, gum, nectar, stems, and fruit, as well as arthropods and insects[58]
 EN 


Unknown Population declining[59]

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More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Xanthonycticebus Nekaris & Nijman, 2022 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Pygmy slow loris

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X. pygmaeus
(Bonhote, 1907)
Southeastern Asia
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Size: 15–25 cm (6–10 in) long, with no tail[60]

Habitat: Forest[61]

Diet: Insects, gum, resin, fruit, and bamboo[60]
 EN 


Unknown Population declining[61]

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Subfamily Perodicticinae

More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Arctocebus Gray, 1863 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Calabar angwantibo

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A. calabarensis
(Smith, 1860)
Western equatorial Africa
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Size: 22–31 cm (9–12 in) long, plus 4–10 cm (2–4 in) tail[62]

Habitat: Forest[63]

Diet: Insects, as well as fruit and gum[62]
 NT 


Unknown Population declining[63]

Golden angwantibo


A. aureus
de Winton, 1902
Western equatorial Africa
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Size: 22–26 cm (9–10 in) long, plus vestigial tail[64]

Habitat: Forest[65]

Diet: Insects and fruit[65]
 LC 


Unknown Unknown[65]

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More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Perodicticus Bennett, 1831 – three species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Central African potto

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P. edwarsi
Bouvier, 1879
Central Africa Size: 30–37 cm (12–15 in) long, plus 3–7 cm (1–3 in) tail[66]

Habitat: Forest[67]

Diet: Gum, insects, snails and fruit[67]
 LC 


Unknown Population declining[67]

East African potto

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P. ibeanus
Thomas, 1910

Two subspecies
  • P. i. ibeanus (Eastern potto)
  • P. i. stockleyi (Mount Kenya potto)
East central Africa Size: 29–37 cm (11–15 in) long, plus 4–10 cm (2–4 in) tail[66]

Habitat: Forest[68]

Diet: Fruit, gum, nectar, and invertebrates, as well as moss, frogs, and eggs[68]
 LC 


Unknown Population steady[68]

West African potto

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P. potto
(Müller, 1766)
Western equatorial Africa Size: 30–39 cm (12–15 in) long, plus 3–10 cm (1–4 in) tail[69]

Habitat: Forest[70]

Diet: Fruit, arthropods, insects, and eggs, as well as small vertebrates[69]
 NT 


Unknown Population declining[70]

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References

Sources

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