potto

The potto (Perodicticus potto) is a nocturnal strepsirrhine primate in the family Lorisidae, native to the tropical forests of West and Central Africa. It is a small to medium-sized, slow-moving primate with a compact body, a short tail, dense fur, and large eyes adapted to low-light conditions. The potto is highly arboreal, spending most of its time in trees and avoiding descents to the ground. Its locomotion is deliberate and predominantly a climbing and gripping style, aided by strong, flexible limbs.

Diet and foraging are diverse and primarily geared toward an omnivorous, omnivorous-leaning frugivorous spectrum. The potto consumes tree gum (exudates), fruit, leaves, and insects. It gouges bark to release gum and forages for other plant and animal matter as available. The species tends to be solitary, with individuals maintaining overlapping but largely separate ranges, except for mothers with dependent offspring.

Behavior and ecology: Potto social life is largely solitary outside of mating and maternal care. It communicates through vocalizations and scent-marking, and it relies on stealth and camouflage to avoid predators. Reproduction details vary across its range, but females typically give birth to a single infant after a long gestation, with the young remaining close to the mother during the early months.

Distribution and habitat: The potto occurs across humid tropical forests from Ivory Coast and Ghana eastward to the Congo Basin, including parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It occupies primary and secondary forests and is sometimes found in riparian habitats.

Conservation status: The IUCN lists the potto as Least Concern, though habitat loss and fragmentation from deforestation and hunting threaten local populations in several areas.