As with other slow lorises, this arboreal and nocturnal species primarily eats insects, tree gum, nectar, and fruit and has a toxic bite, a unique feature among primates.

[7][8] From then until 2005, N. bancanus was considered a synonym of the Bornean slow loris,[9] which was elevated to the species level (as N. menagensis) in 2006, when molecular analysis showed it to be genetically distinct from N. coucang.

[10] A 2013 review of museum specimens and photographs attributed to N. menagensis resulted in elevating two of its former subspecies to the species N. bancanus and N. borneanus.

[15] On the ventral side of its elbow, it has a small swelling called the brachial gland, which secretes a pungent, clear oily toxin that the animal uses defensively by wiping it on its toothcomb.

[16] N. bancanus has distinct crimson red fur on its back, the facial markings (facemask) are light in color, and the upper edges of the dark rings around the eyes (circumocular patch) are diffuse, and not rounded or pointed like some of the other slow lorises from Borneo.

[17] N. bancanus is found in southwestern Borneo, in the Indonesian provinces of West and South Kalimantan, as well as the island of Bangka.

[18] Like other slow lorises, N. bancanus is arboreal, nocturnal,[12] and omnivorous, eating primarily insects, tree gum, nectar, and fruit.

When threatened, slow lorises may also lick their brachial glands and bite their aggressors, delivering the toxin into the wounds.