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Tarsier Facts

Tarsier Facts
Tarsier is unique type of primate that inhabits southern and eastern parts of Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia and the southern Philippines). All tarsier are divided in three groups, according to their geographic location: Western Tarsiers, Eastern Tarsiers and Philippine Tarsiers. There are 18 different sub-species of tarsiers, but all of them look very similar. Tarsiers prefer life in lowland or low mountain forests, mangroves and scrubs. Vast majority of tarsiers are listed as endangered due to habitat loss, hunting, introduction of new species and because of the pet trade.
Interesting Tarsier Facts:
Tarsiers are sized as a squirrel. They can reach 3.6 to 6.4 inches in length, and between 2.8 and 5.8 ounces in weight.
Tarsiers have a body covered in fur that can be ochre, brown, gold or grey in color.
Tarsiers have extremely large eyes and ears, and long tail and hind legs. All these features are essential for the successful life in the treetops.
Tarsiers are nocturnal (active during the night) and arboreal (spend their life on trees) animals. They have excellent eyesight and sense of hearing, which help them locate the prey and avoid the predators.
Eyes of tarsiers have 0.63 inches in diameter. Each eye is heavier than the brain. They have the largest eyes (compared to the body size) of all mammals.
Tarsiers are carnivorous animals (meat-eaters). Their diet consists mainly of insects, but they can also eat small birds, bats, lizards and snakes.
Tarsiers catch their prey by leaping from one branch to another. They can leap a distance of up to 16.4 feet. Fingers and toes are equipped with pads and long nails which help them grip both the branches and the prey.
Tarsiers have another unique feature: they can rotate their head for 180 degrees without moving the rest of the body. This helps them remain "silent" while waiting for the prey to appear.
Main predators of tarsiers are cats, birds of prey and large snakes.
Most subspecies of tarsiers are solitary and territorial animals. Each animal require one hectare of territory for itself.
Tarsiers spray urine on the tree branches to mark their territory.
Tarsiers communicate with each other using various sounds. Type of vocalization depends on the species.
Tarsiers gather during the mating season. Pregnancy lasts 180 days and ends with one baby. Infants (babies) are covered with fur, have open eyes and they are able to move by jumping one day after birth.
Babies depend on their mother for the first two months of their life. After that period, they leave their mother and begin solitary life.
Life span of tarsiers depends on the species. It is usually between 12 and 20 years in the wild. Tarsiers are very sensitive to a life in captivity and very small percent of animals manage to survive behind the bars.


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