Bengal lorikeets
| Bengal lorikeets | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengal lorikeets ( Nycticebus bengalensis ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Nycticebus bengalensis | ||||||||||||
| ( Lacépède , 1800) |
The Bengal lorikeet ( Nycticebus bengalensis ) is a species of primate from the Loris family (Lorisidae). Bengal loris are very difficult to observe in the wild because of their secret way of life. Most of the knowledge about the way of life of these wet-nosed monkeys comes from keeping them in zoological gardens.
features
Bengal slow loris are among the largest representatives of the loris, but there is great variance in size and coat color. The head body length is 30 to 38 centimeters, the tail is absent and the weight is 1.5 to 2 kilograms. The fur is short and dense, its color ranges from white-gray to gray-brown, the underside is lighter. In the hands, the second finger is greatly reduced, the second toes have the cleaning claws typical of wet-nosed monkeys . The eyes are large, round and forward, the ears are small and rounded.
distribution and habitat
These primates are native to Southeast Asia , their range extends from eastern India and Bangladesh and southern China to southern Thailand . In China, the species has only been found in the south of the provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi .
Their habitat are tropical rainforests and other forms of forest, they occur up to 2400 meters above sea level.
Way of life
Bengal loris are nocturnal tree dwellers that curl up in the dense vegetation to sleep during the day. At night they go in search of food, their movements being slow and deliberate. Thanks to their modified hands, they have a firm grip around the branches that can hardly be loosened by force. They live largely solitary.
The diet of these animals consists mainly of fruits and tree sap, compared to other Loris they eat relatively few insects. When hunting insects, the Bengal lorikeets behave very unusual. He approaches the insect up to a distance of about three feet, then stands up almost completely on his hind legs while holding on with his hind feet, and then lets his entire body fall forward, grasping the insect with both hands .
Danger
The main threats for the Bengal slow loris are destruction of their habitat and hunting. The reasons for hunting are their meat, which is eaten, traditional medicine, and because they are made into pets . The keeping as pets takes place mainly in Japan , the People's Republic of China and the countries in which the animals also occur naturally. Slow loris are particularly cute and trusting, as they can be picked up without resistance. However, remaining silent is part of the animals' defense strategy. This behavior also makes it very easy for humans to catch primates . Slow loris are the most threatened species found in the markets of South-East Asia .
After catching the animals, their sharp teeth are usually clipped or pulled with nail pincers or other tools, which often leads to severe inflammation or even death. So far, the natural feeding behavior of nocturnal animals has hardly been researched, so many slow loris die in captivity from malnutrition . The IUCN fears that the total population will decrease by over 30% in the next three generations (21 to 24 years) and lists the species as "endangered" ( vulnerable ).
In Germany the species is maintained in Augsburg and Berlin. In Europe there are also holders in Great Britain and Russia.
literature
- Thomas Geissmann : Comparative Primatology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin et al. 2002, ISBN 3-540-43645-6 .
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- John McKinnon: Bengal Slow Loris. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , p. 159.
- Tej Kumar Shrestha: Wildlife of Nepal - A Study of Renewable Resources of Nepal Himalayas. Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 2003, ISBN 99933-59-02-5
Web links
- Nycticebus bengalensis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: U. Strings, M. Singh, RJ Timmins & w. Brockelman, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
Single receipts
- ^ A b Tej Kumar Shrestha: Wildlife of Nepal - A Study of Renewable Resources of Nepal Himalayas. Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 2003, p. 104. ISBN 99933-59-02-5
- ↑ a b Nycticebus bengalensis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: U. Strings, M. Singh, RJ Timmins & w. Brockelman, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
- ^ John McKinnon: Bengal Slow Loris. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , p. 159.
- ↑ mongabay.com ( Memento of the original from March 13, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ webcitation.org ( Memento from January 9, 2011 on WebCite )
- ↑ regenwald.org
- ↑ [1] ZTL 17.6
