So last week a whole load of fraternal fungal hijinks ensued with the Stinky Squid tricking everyone. This week we have a request from @cbishop who wanted to see one of those monkey things with suction cup fingers covered. So we are, hope you guys enjoy.

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Issue #115 – Philippines Tarsier

Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum – Chordata

Class – Mammalia

Order – Primates

Family – Tarsiidae

Genus – Carlito

Species – syrichta

Related Species – The Philippines Tarsier is closely related to the nine species in the genus Tarsius. (1)

Range

Gremlins 3: The Tarsier Connection

The Philippines Tarsier is one of the smallest primates, with a body length of up to 14cm in length including the tail and a maximum weight of 80 to 160g with males weighing more than females. The most distinguishing feature of the Philippines Tarsier, and indeed the other Tarsiers is their large eyes, the biggest eyes in proportion to body size of all mammals, which take up the majority of their faces. These eyes are so large that they can’t rotate in their head, but fortunately Tarsiers have a special adaptation to their neck vertebrae that allows them to rotate their heads 180° from their initial starting position (2). These eyes are well adapted to pick up light and movement in dark conditions, which in conjunction with the large ears allow Tarsiers to hunt in almost complete darkness.

Uniquely among primates, the Tarsiers are obligate carnivores, feeding on insects as well as small mammals and reptiles. Prey is seized with nimble fingers and stuffed into the mouth while it’s still alive. Tarsiers are highly mobile and have few predators outside owls and feral cats (Felis catus). When pursued the Philippines Tarsier moves quickly through the forest using their powerful back legs in conjunction with the adhesive pads on the fingers to leap and climb out of danger until they reach a hollow where they hide from their predators.

Philippine Tarsiers mate between April and May, and after coitus the male deposits a mating plug into the female’s reproductive tract to prevent rival males from mating with her (3). Gestation takes around a month to complete, with a single baby being born fully furred with their eyes already open. New-born tarsiers are carried in their mothers for the first month and are weaned off milk at about sixty days old, becoming independent from their mother shortly afterwards.

Five Fun Philippines Tarsier Facts

The name Tarsier comes from the Latin word tarsus which references the animals elongated ankle bones.

These elongated ankles are useful when it comes to leaping, with a Philippines Tarsier able to leap up to 3m in a single bound

These elongated ankles prevent Tarsiers from walking on the ground. Should they find themselves on the ground Tarsiers use a hoping locomotion until they reach a climbable tree.

When grooming each other Philippines Tarsier creates a purring sound when content

When stressed out or kept in captivity all species of Tarsier’s have a habit of banging their heads against the cage walls, effectively cracking their thin craniums open and committing suicide (4).

Bibliography

1 - www.arkive.org

2 - http://www.philippines-travel-guide.com/philippine-tarsier.html

3 - Flannery, S (15 Oct 2003). "Philippine tarsier". The Primata

4 - http://www.globalanimal.org/2011/12/13/tarsiers-threatened-commit-suicide/

Picture References

1 - https://haydensanimalfacts.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/philippine-tarsier.jpg

2 - https://bonvito.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/carlito.png

3 - http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/18/183B6C3C-2FC7-4C8B-B88C-0AB6DCC6F70F/Presentation.Large/Adult-female-Philippine-tarsier-.jpg

4 - http://www.wired.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/CATERS_Tarsier_Leap_06.jpg

That last ‘fun fact’ isn’t so fun, especially when we consider human curiosity is killing these beasties of the night. Next week we delve into the dark and damp underworld of the amphibian world. But until then make sure to critic, comment and suggest future issues as well as making sure you check past issues in Impurest’s Bestiary.

Many Thanks

Impurest Cheese