Virtual Non-Human Primate Zoo
Philippine Tarsier - Carlito syrichta
Female with its offspring. Photo Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Babytarsier.jpg
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorrhini
Infraorder: Tarsiiformes
Family: Tarsiidae
Genus: Carlito
Species: syrichta
COMMON NAME:
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Philippine tarsier
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Philippines
HABITAT:
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secondary forest
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scrub
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clearings with thick vegetation
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
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gray fur
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nearly naked tail
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uses its tail for balancing like a tripod
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weigh around 113- 142 grams
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height ranges from 118 mm to 149 mm
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eyes are bigger than the brain and stomach
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sharp teeth
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only two incisors in their lower jaw
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very long ankle bones
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the fibula and tibia are fused together acting as shock absorbers (primitive trait)
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their first toes are fully opposable for gripping
The male Carlito syrichta. Photo Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bohol_Tarsier.jpg
Leaping Carlito syrichta. Photo Credit: http://jurgenfreund.photoshelter.com/image/I00001NMo5mc64s0
DIET: Insectivore
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insects
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lizards
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birds
LOCOMOTION TYPE: Vertical clings and leaps
SOCIAL GROUP ORGANIZATION: Solitary species
PARENTAL CARE:
The mother usually carries the newborn tarsier in her mouth during the first months. Some mothers also place their infants in a particular place, where they leave them and check up on them every now and then. Usually after 70 days, the infants begin to explore.
SOCIAL GROUP ORGANIZATION: Solitary species
PARENTAL CARE:
The mother usually carries the newborn tarsier in her mouth during the first months. Some mothers also place their infants in a particular place, where they leave them and check up on them every now and then. Usually after 70 days, the infants begin to explore.
COMMUNICATION:
They have 3 vocal ways to communicate:
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loud call – a single note sound
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soft call – more of a mellow bird call
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ultrasound frequency call – a call which the infants make when they are separated from their mothers
They can also communicate with scent markings.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:
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One of the smallest monkeys in the whole world
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They are nocturnal animals; during the day they are not to be disturbed.
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They commit suicide if they cannot handle touching and loud noise.
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This species can also be found classified as Tarsius syrichta. In 2010 Groves and Shekelle revised tarsier taxonomy and separated the Philippines Tarsier into its own genus, Carlito.
ENDANGERMENT STATUS: Near Threatened
Carlito syrichta has possibilities of going extinct due to the fact that the rates of infant mortality are very high, their geographical range is getting smaller, and they are getting hunted down by businesses which sell wholesale foods.
To learn more about Carlito syrichta, visit the following websites:
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Groves, C.; Shekelle, M. (2010). "The Genera and Species of Tarsiidae." International Journal of Primatology 31 (6): 1071–1082.
Information and photographs compiled by J. Olivares and J. Torres.