Tarsier

Family Tarsiidae (Gray, 1825)

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Taxonomy

The family Tarsiidae has a single genus: Tarsius, and seven species: T. syrichta, T. bancanus, T. spectrum, T. dianae, T. pelengensis, T. sangirensis, and T. pumilus. Tarsiers were previously classified as strepsirhines, but are now considered members of the haplorhines; they have traits that are similar to the prosimians as well as those similar to the monkeys and apes.

Prosimian and Anthropoid Traits?

Tarsiers share characterisics with both the prosimians and anthropoids, as well as those unique unto themselves.

Prosimian traits include:

nocturnurality, small body size, unfused mandible (lower jaw), relatively large ears, and a grooming claw.

Anthropoid traits include:

lack of naked rhinarium (dry nosed), enclosed bony eye sockets, chromosomal/DNA arrangements, internal arrangements.

Unique traits include:

large eyes - each is larger than their brain, and they are immobile in their sockets. neck - capable of rotation up to 180 degrees. (Tarsiers are primarily insectivores and this eye/neck combination may be helpful in catching their prey at night.)

Morphology

These tiny primates rarely exceed a half pound and measure as few as four inches. Their name is derived from the long tarsus bones in their feet. Their hands have pads like suction cups on the ends of the digits, enabling them to move up vertical surfaces, including glass. They have two grooming claws on their second and third toes, which are used to clean the fur and skin of dirt and ectoparasites.

Locomotion

Tarsiers are capable of jumping up to seven feet, and use a specialized form of locomotion called vertical clinging and leaping (VCL). They move from tree to tree by clinging vertically to a trunk or branch and then leaping to cling vertically to the next trunk or branch. When not moving between trees, they hop on their long legs. Their tail helps them balance while moving and also supports them while resting; tarsiers prefer to be vertical at all times.

Habitat

Tarsiers are found in the dense rainforests on the southeast Asian islands of the Philippines, Sulawesi, Borneo, and Sumatra.

Diet

made up entirely of animal prey, including insects, small birds and lizards, and snakes.

Social Behavior

Nocturnal and arboreal. May be solitary but social, but some species form pair-bonds, and others still form multi-male, multi-female groups of two to six individuals.

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