Social Behavior
Pygmy slow lorises will huddle together at night for warmth and predator protection. Click image for larger version.
Like other loris species, pygmy slow lorises are nocturnal and arboreal. While they are considered to be solitary foragers, it is not uncommon for the territory of one male to overlap with that of several females. Males do not readily tolerate the presence of other males in their territory.
This species is more active at night and moves more quickly than some of the other lorises. In fact, studies have suggested that they are almost constantly in motion during the hours of darkness, pausing briefly only to feed.
If accosted, individuals can emit a strong odor warning predators not to attack. If the predator persists, the loris produces a secretion that is toxic when mixed with saliva. It may then bite the hapless predator. Although extensive research has not been conducted on this defense mechanism, it is known that the secretion is poisonous to humans, and many native peoples in Asia avoid lorises in the wild. If all other defenses fail, the animals may drop to the ground and flee, but only as a last resort.