---
title: "What the sources say about the Potto | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "43 claims from the Potto profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
image: "https://animaltracks.wiki/images/animals/potto-1.webp"
canonical: "https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/potto/sources/"
---

# What the sources say about the Potto (*Perodicticus potto*)

> 43 claims from the Potto profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Potto](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/potto/)

## Perodicticus potto (potto). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Perodicticus_potto/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| slow, silent nocturnal primate that can hold still on a branch for long periods without fatigue | Cryptic behavior in pottos includes nocturnal activity ... possessing the ability to remain immobile for extended periods of time without fatigue (using retia mirabilia), and using slow, steady, and silent locomotion. |
| presents predators with a shield of elongated neck-vertebra spines | arching the back, and presenting the scapular shield (note: the shield itself is 'elongated spines of the cervical vertebrae' (ADW Physical Description, claimed in the body)) |
| Retia mirabilia that let it hold still for long periods without fatigue | possessing the ability to remain immobile for extended periods of time without fatigue (using retia mirabilia) |
| a scapular shield it presents to predators | If confronted by a predator, they will exhibit their defense posture which consists of grasping a branch with all four limbs, tucking the head down below their shoulders between the forelimbs, arching the back, and presenting the scapular shield. |
| Pottos are slow, nocturnal primates that can stay still on a branch for long periods without fatigue | Cryptic behavior in pottos includes nocturnal activity ... possessing the ability to remain immobile for extended periods of time without fatigue (using retia mirabilia), and using slow, steady, and silent locomotion. |
| and older accounts of it cover pottos from Gambia and Senegal to western Kenya | The range of Perodicticus potto stretches across equatorial Africa in tropical rainforests from Gambia and Senegal to western Kenya. |
| the index finger is vestigial, the thumb and big toe are opposable | The index finger is vestigial. The reduced second digits on the hands and feet and the opposable pollex and hallux create an excellent grip on arboreal supports. |
| a sharpened grooming claw sits on the shrunken second toe | the sharpened toilet claw on the reduced second digit of the hind feet |
| Bundles of blood vessels in the limbs, called retia mirabilia, keep blood reaching contracted muscles while the animal holds still | the presence of vascular bundles in the limb vessels that allow blood circulation to contracted muscles while the animal is immobile (retia mirabilia) |
| elongated spines on the neck vertebrae that rise above the outline of the body, under thick skin, fur and patches of whiskers | elongated spines of the cervical vertebrae that extend above the contour of the animal’s body. The spines are covered by thick skin and fur. Patches of vibrissae are also dispersed in this area of the fur. |
| When confronted by a predator, a potto grips the branch with all four limbs, tucks its head down between its forelimbs, arches its back to present the shield, and bares its teeth | If confronted by a predator, they will exhibit their defense posture which consists of grasping a branch with all four limbs, tucking the head down below their shoulders between the forelimbs, arching the back, and presenting the scapular shield. They will then bare the teeth |
| Bite First, Then Charge It bites the branch it is holding, again and again. If the predator does not retreat, the potto charges forward, trying to knock it off the branch | They will then bare the teeth and repeatedly bite the arboreal support they are grasping. If the predator does not retreat, the potto will then charge forward, trying to knock the predator off the branch. |
| A mother parks her infant, leaving it hanging on a hidden branch at night while she forages | the mother will “park” the infant by leaving it hanging on a hidden tree or branch at night while she forages |
| grooms it with her tooth comb, applying a salivary liquid that repels predators | the mother will apply a salivary liquid to her offspring by grooming it with her tooth comb. This liquid applied to the infant repels predators |
| Measured across the old, undivided species, adults are 305 to 390 millimetres head to body, plus a 37 to 100-millimetre tail | Head and body measurements range from 305 to 390 mm with a tail length of 37 to 100 mm. (note: ADW's account covers the range from Gambia and Senegal to western Kenya, i.e. all three current species) |
| weigh 600 grams to 1.6 kilograms | Adult weights range from 600 to 1600 g (note: 1.6 kg is 1600 g; broad-sense scope as above) |
| Pottos move with slow, steady, silent locomotion, and are one of the few nocturnal prosimians that do not leap to escape predators | using slow, steady, and silent locomotion ... Perodictus potto is one of the few nocturnal prosimians that do not use leaping to escape from predators. |
| Their main anti-predator strategy is crypsis: they usually stay hidden in dense vegetation | The main anti-predator strategy for pottos is crypsis. ... They usually stay hidden in dense vegetation so as to not be detected by predators. |
| Pottos have a distinct odor some observers call curry-like, and they mark territory and signal reproductive state with urine trails and secretions from glands under the tail | They leave urine trails and secretions from glands under the tail on branches to mark territory and communicate information on their reproductive state. ... Pottos have a distinct odor that some observers have called "curry-like." |
| Spines on its neck vertebrae are long enough to stand above the outline of its body | elongated spines of the cervical vertebrae that extend above the contour of the animal’s body |
| The shield is believed to work in defense against predators and other pottos, and possibly to stimulate genital secretions in mates | The “scapular shield” area is believed to function in defense against predators and other pottos, and possibly to stimulate genital secretions in mates. |
| The salivary liquid a mother grooms onto her parked infant repels predators, and it is thought that it may possess some kind of toxin | When parked infants are left alone by their mothers, the mother will apply a salivary liquid to her offspring by grooming it with her tooth comb. This liquid applied to the infant repels predators, and it is thought that it may possess some kind of toxin. |
| Adults may also use the secretion to protect themselves | This toxic or noxious secretion may also be used to protect adults from predation. |
| It moves with slow, steady, silent locomotion and can stay still on a branch for long periods without fatigue | possessing the ability to remain immobile for extended periods of time without fatigue (using retia mirabilia), and using slow, steady, and silent locomotion. (note: vibe.reason, re-paired in the wave 116 final pass (screenshot test: an African primate paired with Ghanaian highlife on 'West African warmth')) |

## Boettcher et al. (2019). Extraordinary grip strength and specialized myology in the hyper‐derived hand of Perodicticus potto? Journal of Anatomy.

https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13051

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Behavioral reports credited pottos with an extraordinary grip, but the claim had not been empirically substantiated | Previous behavioral reports of the African lorisid, Perodicticus potto, have speculated that these animals have an extraordinary grip strength. ... Despite numerous behavioral reports, however, this claim of extraordinary grip strength has not been empirically substantiated. |
| A 2019 study measured the cross-section of their finger-flexing muscles against a broad primate sample and found it relatively below average | This study quantifies the physiological cross-sectional area of the digital flexor muscles within P. potto. These data are compared with a broad primate sample ... we found that P. potto actually has relatively below-average digital flexor PCSA. (note: the 2019 date is the reference's own publication year (Crossref)) |
| A 2019 study compared its finger-flexing muscles with a broad primate sample, including several similarly sized strepsirrhines, and found them relatively below average | These data are compared with a broad primate sample, including several similarly sized strepsirrhines. Contrary to expectation, we found that P. potto actually has relatively below-average digital flexor PCSA. (note: 2019 is the reference's publication year) |
| The strong-grip reputation rested on behavioral reports | Despite numerous behavioral reports, however, this claim of extraordinary grip strength has not been empirically substantiated. |

## Pozzi et al. (2015). Remarkable ancient divergences amongst neglected lorisiform primates: Phylogeny of Lorisiform Primates. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

https://doi.org/10.1111/zoj.12286

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Current taxonomy recognizes three potto species, and a 2015 study of mitochondrial DNA dated their split to more than 5 million years ago | Within Perodicticus, current taxonomy recognizes three different species ... The divergence dates obtained in our study (> 5 Mya) support species status for these three forms of pottos (note: 2015 is the reference's publication year; the study sequenced the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene ("We sequenced the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for 86 lorisiform specimens")) |
| As of 2015, no obvious ecological or behavioral differences between them had been reported | to date no obvious ecological and/or behavioural differences have been reported amongst the three putative species (note: 2015 is the paper's publication year; 'to date' in the paper) |

## West African Potto, Perodicticus potto. New England Primate Conservancy.

https://neprimateconservancy.org/west-african-potto/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| West African moist forest, coastal, swamp, lowland or montane, primary or secondary, plus forest edges and plantations | Within their range, they are found in tropical moist forests, coastal, swamp, lowland, and montane (mountainous) forests, primary forests ... and secondary forests ... This species of potto can also be found in edge forests—those bordering human settlements, as well as plantations. |
| Mainly gums, fruit and insects, including prey other animals find unappetizing; occasionally bats or birds | Their diet primarily includes gums, fruits, and insects, but they will occasionally prey on small vertebrates like bats or birds. ... pottos have adapted to eat the prey that other animals find unappetizing. |
| The West African potto (Perodicticus potto) was formerly considered the only species in its genus | This species of potto was formerly considered the sole species in the genus Perodicticus, but a 2015 study split it to include three separate species |
| The West African potto's predators include leopards, African palm civets, and one population of chimpanzees, at Mount Assirik in Senegal | Besides humans, predators of the West African potto include leopards, African palm civets, and a single population of chimpanzees living in Mount Assirik in Senegal. |
| The West African potto ranges from Guinea to Nigeria, with a separate population in eastern Senegal; the Niger River divides it from the Central African potto | This extends from the country of Guinea west to Nigeria, with another geographically separate population in eastern Senegal. The Niger River serves as the eastern barrier for this species, separating them from the Central African potto |
| West African pottos eat mainly gums, fruit and insects, taking prey other animals find unappetizing: ants, spiders, spiny caterpillars, poisonous millipedes and smelly beetles | Their diet primarily includes gums, fruits, and insects ... pottos have adapted to eat the prey that other animals find unappetizing. These include ants, spiders, spiny caterpillars, poisonous millipedes, and smelly beetles. |
| and occasionally a bat or bird | they will occasionally prey on small vertebrates like bats or birds |
| An expandable stomach holds up to 8 percent of their body weight, so they can eat a lot quickly, cutting the threat of being preyed upon while foraging | Their stomachs are expandable and can hold up to 8% of their body weight. This enables them to eat large quantities of food quickly, which reduces the threat of being preyed upon when foraging. (note: 'so' paraphrases NEPC's 'This enables them to') |
| In some English-speaking parts of Africa the West African potto is called the "softly-softly", for its quiet, careful movements | In some English-speaking parts of Africa, the West African potto is called the “softly-softly”. This is in reference to their quiet, slow, and careful movements through the forest canopy. |
| In the wild a West African potto lives about 10 years, and in captivity up to 26 | Their lifespan in the wild is about 10 years, while those in captivity can live up to 26 years. (note: settle #880: date rule, the 2025 species-scoped page replaces AnAge's single broad-sense 32.4-year record) |
| About 10 years in the wild. Captive West African pottos can live up to 26 years | Their lifespan in the wild is about 10 years, while those in captivity can live up to 26 years. (note: FAQ (settle #880)) |
| weightKg: 1.1 | Weight ranges between 21.4-56.2 ounces (600-1,600 g). (note: battleStats (settle #880); midpoint of the species-scoped range) |

## Svensson et al. (2020). Perodicticus potto. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T91995408A92248699.

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2020-2.rlts.t91995408a92248699.en

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Near Threatened | IUCN Red List category: Near Threatened (NT). |