World of Animals
Featured Animals
General
There are three species of Tarsiers which are all equally fascinating. To jump to a specific section, use the Quick Jump below by clicking on the headings.
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| Sizes -Length: 3-6 inches -Weight: 3-6 oz. -Tail: 5-11 inches |
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Habitat
and Habits
-there are three species of Tarsiers, which are all similar sizes
- Western Tarsier-studied in the wild
- Spectral Tarsier-studied in the wild
- Philippine Tarsier
-a tarsier's hind legs are twice as long as its body
-it uses them to leap from tree to tree
-each hand and foot has five slender fingers/toes
-each digit has nails except for the second and the third
-second and third have claws for grooming
-digit= a finger or toe
-on the bottom of each digit there is a swelling that has a gripping surface
-let's the tarsier cling
-has huge eyes with large pupils
-has good night vision
-the eyes are immobile in their sockets
-a tarsier can rotate its neck and head 180 degrees in both directions
-tarsiers stay in the trees at night about 3 ft. from the ground
-climb higher to sleep during the day
-wake before sunset, search for food, and sleep at sunrise
-live in pairs or small groups
-life span of 12 years
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and Feeding -Philippine and Spectral eat insects -favorite insects are gnats, dragon flies, termites, locusts, mosquitoes, moths, and grasshoppers -have not been seen eating fruit in the wild, but they do in captivity -Western eats the same insects as Philippine and Spectral -also eat bats, lizards, snakes, and birds -kill birds by leaping on them, grabbing the bird, and biting neck -all tarsiers use their excellent hearing to locate prey -larger prey is carried to a tree before being eaten -drink water regularly -get water from pools, streams, trunks, or leave cavities |
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Links
for More Information
-Nova Online Tarsier
-Philippine
Tarsier Foundation