Leah Fitzpatrick

The slow (Nycitcebus spp.) and  pygmy lorises  (Xanthonycticebus sp.) arguably represent the most fascinating Strepsirrhine primates – they are gum eating, venom producing, cobra mimicking primates with 10 species distributed across South East Asia. Venomous mammals are scant throughout Mammalia, represented by under 30 species including the slow and pygmy lorises, platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), short-tailed shrews (Blarina spp.), water shrews (Neomys spp.), solenodon (Solenodon spp.) and vampire bats (Desmondus rotundus, Diphylla ecaudata and Diaemus youngi).

The slow loris venom delivery system consists of a brachial gland exudate (BGE) located on a gland on the inner arm that is activated when combined with saliva, proving lethal to mammals (including humans) and arthropods. This venom is unique in the animal kingdom not only as it provides an interspecific use (an extremely rare adaption for venom) but also as the only two-stage venom known in the scientific literature, with the BGE needing to be mixed with the saliva before it reaches it toxic potential.

While the behaviour, ecology and natural history of slow and pygmy lorises has been well documented within the current scientific literature, their genetic research is predominately limited to being used as an outgroup for larger primate genetic studies. Their venom system, much like all venomous mammal research, has received little attention outside of remarking on its novelty. This scarcity in research is not due to lack of interest but rather two issues: first is the difficulty in obtaining samples from wild specimens due to the rarity and endangered status of these animals, second is the difficulty in identifying where seized specimens have originated from making it near impossible to successful release specimens.

My PhD seeks to help fill in the gaps on our genetic and venom knowledge of the pygmy and slow lorises using my evolutionary venomic background.  

 Broadly, the goals are:

1.     Understand the wider evolution of venom within mammals with a focus on evolutionary rates and possible origins

2.     Identify what mechanisms are involved in the distinct two-step venom system including what the trigger for the toxicity in BGE is

3.     Explore the different pressures acting on the life history of the Javan slow lorises (Nyticebus javanicus)

4.     Investigate the population genetics of the pygmy slow lorises including possible validation of the new species split using available data

5.     Evaluate the heterozygosity levels within captive pygmy lorises populations with implications for seized or global populations.