Tarsier - Definition and Overview

Tarsiers
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Suborder: Haplorrhini Infraorder: Tarsiiformes Gregory, 1915 Family: Tarsiidae Gray, 1825 Genus: Tarsius Storr, 1780
Species
Tarsius syrichta Tarsius bancanus Tarsius spectrum Tarsius dianae Tarsius pelengensis Tarsius sangirensis Tarsius pumilus

Tarsiers (family Tarsiidae, genus Tarsius) are a genus of prosimian primates, previously classified as strepsirhines, but now classified as haplorhines, though still not considered to be monkeys. Tarsiers have enormous eyes and long feet. Their feet have extremely elongated tarsus bones, which is how they got their name. They are insectivorous, and catch insects by jumping at them. Once found in Asia, Europe and North America, tarsiers are now mainly found on several Southeast Asian islands including the Philippines, Sulawesi, Borneo, and Sumatra. Their conservation status has been classified as "Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent". Some are extremely traumatised by captivity, killing themselves by banging their heads against the cage.

Classification

• Infraorder Tarsiiformes
  • Family Tarsiidae: tarsiers
    • Genus Tarsius
      • T. syrichta group
        • Philippine Tarsier, Tarsius syrichta
        • Western or Horsfield's Tarsier, Tarsius bancanus
          • Tarsius bancanus bancanus
          • Tarsius bancanus saltator
          • Tarsius bancanus borneanus
      • T. spectrum group
        • Spectral Tarsier, Tarsius spectrum
        • Dian's Tarsier, Tarsius dianae
        • Peleng Tarsier, Tarsius pelengensis
        • Sangihe Tarsier, Tarsius sangirensis
        • Pygmy Tarsier, Tarsius pumilus