This nocturnal primate spends the day curled up in a tight ball. It approaches prey slowly and stealthily, before reaching out and grabbing it with both hands.

Subspecies
Six.

Life span
15 years.

Statistics
Head and body length: 18-26cm, Tail length: 4-7mm, Weight: 102-285g.

Physical description
Slender lorises have long, thin limbs, with efficient grasping hands and opposable thumbs. They vary in colour from brown to grey or red.

Distribution
They range across Sri Lanka and Southern India.

Habitat
They inhabit tropical rainforest, scrub forest, semi-deciduous forest and swamps.

Diet
Slender lorises mostly feed on insects, but they also eat shoots, fruits, leaves, flowers, eggs and small mammals, birds and reptiles.

Behaviour
Although they forage alone, slender lorises sleep in groups of 2-4. They spend the day sleeping in a tight ball up a tree, and become active in the evening.

Reproduction
Slender lorises breed twice a year, usually between May & December. They typically give birth to one offspring, but sometimes two.

Conservation status
Slender lorises are considered to be Vulnerable by the 2000 IUCN Red List.