Nycticebus javanicus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	PRIMATES	LORISIDAE

Scientific Name:

Nycticebus javanicus

Species Authority:

É. Geoffroy, 1812

Common Name/s:

English

–

Javan Slow Loris

Synonym/s:

Nycticebus ornatus Thomas, 1921

Taxonomic Notes:

This taxon was considered a subspecies of Nycticebus coucang but elevated by Groves and Maryanto (in press). This is further supported by Nekaris and Jaffe (2007). There is strong evidence for two distinct forms and further research is needed (Nekaris et al. 2006, Nekaris and Jaffe 2007).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A2cd ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Nekaris, A. & Shekelle, M.

Reviewer/s:

Mittermeier, R.A. & Rylands, A.B. (Primate Red List Authority)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
This species is listed as Endangered due to a suspected decline of at least 50% over the last three generations (approximately 21-24 years) due to severe and persistent persecution for the pet trade. Much of the habitat has also disappeared for the species, though much of this was lost more than three generations ago.

History:

2000

–

Data Deficient

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is only known from western and central Java in Indonesia.
Countries:	Native: Indonesia (Jawa)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species has been recorded at very low densities (0.20-0.02/km) (Nekaris et al. in review).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is nocturnal and arboreal, and is found in both primary and secondary disturbed forest. It needs arboreal connectivity (vines and lianas) due to its unique locomotive adaptations. It feeds on sap and floral florescence and on gum and insects. Thought to occur between 0 and 1,600 m, although it seems to be more common at higher elevations (likely due to the fact that lower elevation habitat is rare) (A. Nekaris pers. comm.). Further studies are urgently needed.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species is nocturnal and arboreal, and is found in both primary and secondary disturbed forest. It needs arboreal connectivity (vines and lianas) due to its unique locomotive adaptations. It feeds on sap and floral florescence and on gum and insects. Thought to occur between 0 and 1,600 m, although it seems to be more common at higher elevations (likely due to the fact that lower elevation habitat is rare) (A. Nekaris pers. comm.). Further studies are urgently needed.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species is used for traditional "medicines" (Nekaris and Nijman 2007). Due to their non-saltatory locomotion, their choice of sleeping sites on exposed branches, and nocturnal habits, the animals are easily caught by humans, who seek them both for the pet trade as well as opportunistically collect them during forest felling (Nekaris and Bearder 2007). It is also threatened locally by the loss of forest habitat.

Major Threat(s):

This species is used for traditional "medicines" (Nekaris and Nijman 2007). Due to their non-saltatory locomotion, their choice of sleeping sites on exposed branches, and nocturnal habits, the animals are easily caught by humans, who seek them both for the pet trade as well as opportunistically collect them during forest felling (Nekaris and Bearder 2007). It is also threatened locally by the loss of forest habitat.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is protected by Indonesian law and is listed on CITES Appendix I. It occurs in several protected areas, though its status there is uncertain (Nekaris et al. 2008), and is currently represented in at least three captive collections (Prague, Czech Republic; Jakarta, Indonesia; Singapore). There is a need for field guides for this and other Southeast Asian nocturnal primate species as they are often confused in rescue centers and elsewhere.

Conservation Actions:

This species is protected by Indonesian law and is listed on CITES Appendix I. It occurs in several protected areas, though its status there is uncertain (Nekaris et al. 2008), and is currently represented in at least three captive collections (Prague, Czech Republic; Jakarta, Indonesia; Singapore). There is a need for field guides for this and other Southeast Asian nocturnal primate species as they are often confused in rescue centers and elsewhere.

Bibliography [top]

	Groves, C. P. 2001. Primate taxonomy. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA. IUCN. 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 5 October 2008). Nekaris, K. A. I. and Bearder, S. 2007. The strepsirrhine primates of Asia and Mainland Africa: diversity shrouded in darkness. In: S. K. Bearder, C. Campbell, A. Fuentes, K. MacKinnon and M. Panger (eds), Primates in Perspective, pp. 24-45. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Nekaris, K. A. I. and Jaffe, S. 2007. Unexpected diversity within the Javan slow loris trade: implications for slow loris taxonomy. Contributions to Zoology 76: 187-196. Nekaris, K. A. I. and Nijman, V. 2007. CITES proposal highlights rarity of asian nocturnal primates (Lorisidae: Nycticebus). Folia Primatologica 78: 211-214. Nekaris, K. A. I., Blackham, G. V. and Nijman, V. 2008. Conservation implications of low encounter rates of five nocturnal primate species (Nycticebus spp.) in Asia. Biodversity and Conservation 17(4): 733-747. Nekaris, K., Roos, C., Pimley, E. and Schulze, H. 2006. Diversity slowly coming to light: reconsidering the taxonomy of pottos and lorises. International Journal of Primatology 27(1): 441. Thomas, O. 1921. Two new species of slow-loris. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8: 627?628.

Groves, C. P. 2001. Primate taxonomy. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA.

IUCN. 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 5 October 2008).

Nekaris, K. A. I. and Bearder, S. 2007. The strepsirrhine primates of Asia and Mainland Africa: diversity shrouded in darkness. In: S. K. Bearder, C. Campbell, A. Fuentes, K. MacKinnon and M. Panger (eds), Primates in Perspective, pp. 24-45. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

Nekaris, K. A. I. and Jaffe, S. 2007. Unexpected diversity within the Javan slow loris trade: implications for slow loris taxonomy. Contributions to Zoology 76: 187-196.

Nekaris, K. A. I. and Nijman, V. 2007. CITES proposal highlights rarity of asian nocturnal primates (Lorisidae: Nycticebus). Folia Primatologica 78: 211-214.

Nekaris, K. A. I., Blackham, G. V. and Nijman, V. 2008. Conservation implications of low encounter rates of five nocturnal primate species (Nycticebus spp.) in Asia. Biodversity and Conservation 17(4): 733-747.

Nekaris, K., Roos, C., Pimley, E. and Schulze, H. 2006. Diversity slowly coming to light: reconsidering the taxonomy of pottos and lorises. International Journal of Primatology 27(1): 441.

Thomas, O. 1921. Two new species of slow-loris. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8: 627?628.

Citation:	Nekaris, A. & Shekelle, M. 2008. Nycticebus javanicus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 May 2013.
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