Tarsier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tarsiers |
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| Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta) | |
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Tarsiiformes
Gregory, 1915
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Tarsiidae
Gray, 1825
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Carlito |
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Tarsiers are small, unique primates. They are not monkeys, but scientists group them with monkeys and apes. Their name comes from the long bones in their feet.
These amazing animals live in trees and are active only at night. This means they are nocturnal. Tarsiers are the only primates that eat only meat. They mostly eat insects, but also catch birds and snakes. They are amazing hunters, jumping from tree to tree to catch moving prey.
Contents
Tarsier Senses
Tarsiers have excellent hearing. They also have very large eyes. Each eye is about 16 mm wide.
Their eyes are very sensitive to touch. Each eye weighs about as much as their entire brain! Unlike many animals active at night, tarsiers do not have a special light-reflecting area in their eyes. They also have a fovea, which is unusual for nocturnal animals.
How Their Brains Are Different
A tarsier's brain is different from other primates. The way cells are arranged in the part of the brain that gets information from both eyes is unique. This difference sets tarsiers apart from lemurs, lorises, and monkeys. It suggests that tarsiers developed very early in primate history.
Tarsier Reproduction
Pregnancy for a tarsier lasts about six months. This is a long time for such a small animal. Tarsiers usually give birth to only one baby at a time.
Where Tarsiers Live
Tarsiers were once found in many places. Today, they live only on islands in Southeast Asia. Scientists have found fossils of tarsiers in Asia, Europe, and North America. Some disputed fossils have also been found in Africa.
Living tarsiers are found on several Southeast Asian islands. These include the Philippines, Sulawesi, Borneo, and Sumatra.
Their Long History
Tarsiers have the longest continuous fossil record of any primate. This means we can trace their history back further than any other primate. Their teeth have not changed much in the last 45 million years, except for their size. This suggests that what they eat, and probably their way of life, has stayed much the same.
Tarsiers in Pop Culture
Some people say that tarsiers were the inspiration for the famous movie character Yoda from Star Wars. This is because of their small size and excellent hunting skills.
Protecting Tarsiers
Many tarsier species need protection. One species, Dian's tarsier (Tarsius dentatus), is listed as "lower risk – conservation dependent" by the IUCN. This means it needs ongoing help to survive.
Horsfield's tarsier (Cephalopachus bancanus) is listed as "lower risk – least concern." The spectral tarsier (Tarsius spectrum) is "lower risk, not threatened."
The pygmy tarsier (Tarsius pumilus) was thought to be extinct. However, a family of them was found in 2008. Two males and one female were captured using nets. They were given radio collars to track their movements. Other tarsier species are listed as "data deficient," meaning we don't have enough information about them.
Gallery
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Spectral Tarsier
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Images for kids
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Tarsiers tree-climbing
See also
In Spanish: Tarseros para niños
