Angwantibos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small, nocturnal primate of West Africa characterized by large forward-facing eyes and slow deliberate movements ; a rare woodland mammal belonging to the loris family with a diet mainly of insects and fruits ; an elusive, tree-dwelling creature known for its quiet nature and distinctive slow locomotion
2. A diminutive, night-active primate native to tropical forests of West Africa with prominent eyes and grasping limbs ; an uncommon mammal of the lorisiform group that feeds primarily on insects and fruit ; a shy arboreal animal noted for its cautious movements and solitary habits
3. A tiny, slow-moving primate from African rainforests often seen at night with large eyes adapted for nocturnal vision ; a species within the loris family that consumes mainly insects and some fruit ; a discreet tree dweller recognized for its deliberate pace and elusive behavior

Etymology: The word "angwantibos" is simply the plural of "angwantibo," so the story lies in the singular. It names a small nocturnal primate of West and Central Africa, and its name is a compound from Ibibio, a language of southeastern Nigeria. The three parts are "añwa," meaning "cat," "nte," meaning "like," and "ibọk," meaning "monkey." Put together, the name describes the animal as a monkey that resembles a cat, a fitting description for a creature with large round eyes and soft, cat-like movements in the dark.

Synonyms: slow loris, aye-aye, lemur