07 July 2009

The Slow Loris and other venomous mammals


The slow loris is the world's only poisonous [sic] primate. Its venom is stored in an elbow patch: the loris will suck in the poison from the patch, then mix it around in its mouth before delivering a toxic bite.
The writer for the Guardian makes the common mistake of confusing "poisonous" with "venomous," a distinction I've previously discussed.

The slow loris may be the only venomous primate, but it is not the only venomous mammal. The platypus also produces venom and stores it on its hind legs. (The "swift loris," as far as I know, relies on camoflage and native intelligence, and thus does not need to be venomous.)

Not to mention the world's most famous venomous mammal...

1 comment:

  1. Heh heh.

    (best Jeremy Irons voice)

    You have no idea.

    ReplyDelete

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