The slow loris, one of the world's most adorable creatures, is also the only venomous primate. This tree-clinging fluffball produces a toxin (technically a protein) in a brachial gland on the inside of its elbow. When threatened, the loris sucks on the gland to mix the fluid with its saliva; subsequent bites may cause its victims to go into anaphylactic shock. It can also lick the toxin into its fur to make itself unappetizing to parasites, as well as to the pythons, hawk-eagles, and orangutans that are its natural predators. It needs such a defensive strategy since it's not the speediest animal--hence the name.

The leisurely loris, however, can do nothing about its cuteness. Its soft fur and huge eyes make it a prime target for the illegal pet trade. Some trappers remove these animals' teeth with wire cutters before selling them, which renders them incapable of delivering defensive bites or surviving in the wild. In captivity, the nocturnal loris can slowly go blind if exposed to too much sunlight by an uneducated owner. The loris's many species feature prominently in local mythologies in their native South and Southeast Asia, where their body parts are used for traditional medicines and spells. The bug-eyed primate's only protection is that conferred by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which rates them from vulnerable to critically endangered.