A rare slow loris may have a much larger population in China than scientists thought
Plump, fuzzy and venomous, with wide eyes, a button nose and sharp teeth, northern pygmy slow lorises were thought to reside almost exclusively in Vietnam and Laos. However, new research has documented 98 of the endangered primates in Guangxi, China, in what could be the country’s largest known population of the species. The finding, published […]
In a surprising discovery, researchers from Guangxi Normal University have found a substantially larger population of the endangered northern pygmy slow loris in Guangxi, China, than previously estimated. The previously thought to be exclusive to Vietnam and Laos, the nocturnal primate has been documented in Guangxi's karst forests, suggesting that a significant population may have gone unnoticed.
The species, Xanthonycticebus intermedius, was only recognized as distinct in 2023 after genetic and morphological research. With a potential population of over 100 individuals, this finding could drastically expand the known range of the species and shed light on this understudied animal. Professor Anna Nekaris, founder of the Little Fireface Project, expressed excitement over the discovery and hopes it will inspire further research on this nocturnal and little-known primate.
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