Two-tongued, venomous (but cute) primate adds new species (VIDEO)
A new study has found the two-tongued, venomous loris has more species than once believed.
Researchers have found that a two-tongued, poisonous primate is part of a larger family than once believed.
Researchers at the University of Missouri said they found three new species of slow loris, which now makes the animal divided into four classes.
It is believed that the new species' went unnoticed due to their nocturnal lifestyle.
BBC said that the new finding may mean the primate is even more endangered than previously thought but could help spur efforts to protect it.
“Four separate species are harder to protect than one, since each species needs to maintain its population numbers and have sufficient forest habitat,” said study author, Rachel Munds, of the University of Missouri, said BBC.
The loris is native to southeast Asia and Borneo where it is an endangered species due to poaching.
“Unfortunately, in addition to habitat loss to deforestation, there is a booming black market demand for the animals. They are sold as pets, used as props for tourist photos or dismembered for use in traditional Asian medicines," Munds said, according to Science Recorder.
The loris is the only primate that is poisonous, a way that it repels predators – orangutans in particular.
The findings were published in the American Journal of Primatology.