The red slender loris (Loris tardigradus) is a small, nocturnal primate found exclusively in the rainforests of Sri Lanka. With its delicate limbs, quiet movements, and massive, round eyes, it looks almost otherworldly as it creeps through the dense canopy under the cover of night.
An amazing fact about the red slender loris is its unique defensive strategy and specialized anatomy. Unlike many primates, it has no tail and cannot leap between trees. Instead, it relies on a slow, deliberate, quadrupedal crawl. It possesses a highly specialized network of blood vessels in its limbs called the rete mirabile, which allows blood to flow freely to its muscles even during hours of continuous tightly-gripping static holds. When cornered by a threat, it can twist its body in an eerie, fluid movement that mimics the swaying of a venomous cobra to terrify potential predators.