loris

noun

lo·ris | \ ˈlȯr-əs

How to pronounce loris (audio)

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Definition of loris

: any of several nocturnal slow-moving tailless arboreal primates (family Lorisidae): such as

a : a slim-bodied primate (Loris tardigradus) of southern India and Sri Lanka

b : either of two larger related primates (Nycticebus pygmaeus or N. coucang) of southeastern Asia that are heavier limbed and slower moving

Examples of loris in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At the same time, Nekaris and her colleagues built up local pride and interest in slow lorises by teaching children about the animals and assigning each family an individual slow loris mascot. — Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, "Rain Forest Canopy Bridges Aid Slow Lorises, Gibbons and Other Threatened Species," 2 Nov. 2020 While necrotic wounds were a regular occurrence, predation was not; since 2012, the researchers have lost just one Javan slow loris to a predator, which was a feral dog. — Rachel Nuwer, New York Times, "Slow Lorises Are Adorable but They Bite With Flesh-Rotting Venom," 19 Oct. 2020 Conservationists previously built artificial bridges to help other treebound species such as the Bornean orangutan and the Javan slow loris. — Lucy Hicks, Science | AAAS, "This primate is on the brink of extinction. Humanmade bridges could save it," 15 Oct. 2020 There, scientists presumptively identified the primate as a loris, a slow-moving, tailless, nocturnal animal from southern India and Sri Lanka that lives in trees. — Jeanne Houck, The Enquirer, "Customs: Endangered primate bones found in chili pepper shipment seized in Cincinnati," 10 Sep. 2020 However, the researchers behind the paper, published in the journal Toxins, didn’t actually study cats or humans to generate their hypothesis, instead focusing on a venomous primate called a slow loris. — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, "What Does a Study of Slow Lorises Actually Say About Cat Allergies?," 19 Feb. 2020 Stay as gentle and circumspect as this slow loris is while eating a rice ball. — Aj Willingham, CNN, "Your tips for staying positive in these anxious times," 21 Mar. 2020 Stranger still is the venom system of the slow loris (genus Nycticebus), a nocturnal primate from Southeast Asia. — National Geographic, "What’s the difference between a poisonous and venomous animal?," 7 Jan. 2020 Slow lorises secrete venom — unique among primates — so their sharp teeth are often extracted to make interaction safe. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, "Neglectful Sanctuaries and Poached Animals: New Report Reveals the Dark Side of Wildlife Tourism," 7 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'loris.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Loris.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loris. Accessed 4 Mar. 2021.

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