Loridae (formerly Lorisidae; lorises; order Primates, suborder Strepsirrhini) A family that includes the lorises, pottos, and galagos (bush-babies). They are related to Malagasy lemurs (Lemuriformes), compared with which they have on average shorter muzzles, higher brain cases, and eyes that are directed more forward. They are sometimes included in a separate infra-order, Loriformes (formerly Lorisiformes). In the African potto (Perodictus Potto) and angwantibo the index fingers are reduced in size, so providing a wider grip between the thumb and other digits. The lorises of Asia are slow-moving, arboreal, and nocturnal; they feed largely on invertebrates that are unpalatable to other predators, detecting them by smell. The bush-babies are quick-moving and feed on insects (some of which they catch in flight), small mammals, and some fruit and other plant material. The Loridae are distributed throughout the Old World tropics, apart from Madagascar, as far east as Indonesia. Formerly about 11 species were recognized, usually classed in six genera, but a number of new species of bush-babies have recently been described, and in 1966 J. H. Schwartz described a new genus and species from Cameroon, Pseudopotto martini, related to the potto and angwantibo.

Lorisidae See LORIDAE.