Philippine Tarsier
(Tarsius syrichta)
Facts
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IUCN NEAR THREATENED (NT)
Facts about this animal
The Philippine tarsier is one of the smallest known primates. It has a brownish-grayish fur and a nearly naked tail, except for a tuft of hair at the end. The middle finger is elongated. Head and body length are around 9-16cm. It weighs 90-160 grams. Females are smaller than males. The most conspicuous features of the Philippine Tarsier are their enormous eyes. In proportion to their body, their eyes are the largest among mammals.
Did you know?
That keeping tarsiers as pets is not a good idea? Problems will arise because tarsiers require live food and usually will survive only for a few days if not adequately fed. Another reason is that tarsiers usually host intestinal worms to which humans are susceptible.
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | MAMMALIA |
| Order | PRIMATES |
| Suborder | PROSIMIA |
| Family | TARSIIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Tarsius syrichta |
| Name (English) | Philippine Tarsier |
| Name (French) | Tarsier des Philippines |
| Name (German) | Philippinen-Koboldmaki |
| Name (Spanish) | Tarsero Filipino |
| CITES Status | Appendix II |
| CMS Status | Not listed |
Photo Copyright by
mtoz
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Philippines |
| Habitat | Primary and secondary tropical rainforest |
| Wild population | Unknown, locally common and widespread (Red List IUCN 2011) |
| Zoo population | None reported to ISIS |
In the Zoo
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How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 31 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
Serafin Ramos Jr
Why do zoos keep this animal
Tarsiers are only sporadically kept by zoos, and there is no coordinated breeding programme. Reasons for keeping tarsiers could be educational, because of their unique anatomy and lifestyle, as an ambassador species for their highly threatened habitat, and for animal welfare reasons, as tarsiers are often illegally traded for pets and may be confiscated by conservation authoritiesm who then may ask a zoo to take care of the animals.