The Tarsuis syrichta is the smallest primate in the world. This unique but rare animal is not much known about. Although very interesting this animal is capable of sending a very high pitch sound when in threat or danger.  These animals are very cute and small but must live in its environment and keep reproducing.

As a new born baby Tarsius Syrichta weight is about 25-27 grams .As adults there weight is about 2-5 ounces. They mostly have gray to brown fur. The Tarsius has a tail that is partly bare but it has a tuft of hair at its end. And on the other side of its tail it has dermis ridge that is on human’s hands and feet. The tail also is used to cling on to trees and help it keep balance. The head of the Tarsius has a joint between the skull base and spine which helps it rotate its head 180 degrees like an owl. There teeth are sharp which helps it eat.  This animal has very long ankles which help it leap. The Tarsius syrichita has large ears and round faces. But what there know for are there enormous eyes. There known to have the biggest eyes of a mammal in proportion to their body size.

Tarsius Syrichta live in the Philippine Islands of Mindanao, Letye, Samar and Bohol. And in parts of Indonesia. There are also records of them being in mainline coasts. They can be found inside clumps at the base of bamboo trees and occasionally found in holes in the tree tops. And when looking for a spot they look 2 meters above ground. There are only 5,000 to 10,000 left in the entire world.  They are in risk of extinction. Tarsiers are endangered because of habitat loss and poisoning by pesticides and hunting. Theses animals use to be kept as pets and sold. These primates have less vocal cords then most primates but they use scent marks from urine or glandular  identify  territory . Because they have very good eyesight it’s likely that body language is used.

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The Tarsus syrichta is a night creature so he doesn’t have many predators but one of them is the owl. The Tarsius is a carnivorous . They eat insects such as crickets and cockroaches but sometimes they would eat little lizards , birds , and even bats .  If the prey is small they catch it with there mouth and if its bigger they catch it with there hands. They can’t walk so they leap to tree to tree. Tarsius have huge eyes which give them very good eyesight. They also have ears move to anywhere the sound comes from. And also there head moves 180 degrees.

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Theses animals are very unique because there not a monkey nor a primate. They  breed twice per year and has mostly  one offspring per pregnancy. They breed throughout  the year . And they spend all of there life on trees they even give birth holding on to trees . And when they do breed it depends on how many insects there is . There eye socket are bigger then there stomach and brain. The females have a gestational period of six months .  Tarsius get  depressed  if they feel alone or haven’t mated . They also  cant  live  in captivity without a lot of  attention  or else become unhappy and commute suicide by hitting there head  in a hard surface  like cage bars.

And finally we now know many great facts about the Tarsius Syrichta . And how there life is in the Philippine islands . And also how they make a living by hanging on to trees there whole lives. This unique but very fascinating creature is struggling to survive and  to not become a endangered species . And my final point is that this rare animal is not very known about and needs to be heard about.

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By: Janelle H.
Published: 12/2012

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Sources:  www.tarsieruk.homestead.com/tarsierfoundation

Photo Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_tarsier