Philippine tarsier
Philippine tarsier | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Primates |
Suborder: | Haplorhini |
Family: | Tarsiidae |
Genus: | Carlito Groves & Shekelle, 2010 |
Species: | C. syrichta
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Binomial name | |
Carlito syrichta | |
Geographic distribution of Philippine tarsier | |
Synonyms | |
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The Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta), known locally as mawumag in
Its geographic range also includes
, although they may be different subspecies.Etymology and taxonomic history
The tarsier is named for its elongated "tarsus" or ankle bone.[2] The genus Carlito is named after conservationist Carlito Pizarras.[3] The Philippine tarsier is known as mawumag in
Taxonomic classification
The Philippine tarsier is the only member of the genus Carlito and a member of the family
- Family Tarsiidae
- Genus Tarsius: found in Sulawesi
- Genus Cephalopachus: found in Sundaland
- Genus Carlito: found in Greater Mindanao
- Species Carlito syrichta
- Subspecies Carlito syrichta syrichta from Leyte and Samar
- Subspecies Carlito syrichta fraterculus from Bohol
- Subspecies Carlito syrichta carbonarius from Mindanao
- Species Carlito syrichta
Changes in taxonomy
Previously all living tarsiers had been placed in the genus Tarsius, but a 2010 taxonomic revision by Shekelle and Groves placed the distinctive Philippine tarsier in its own genus, Carlito.[7]
The Philippine tarsier was introduced to Western biologists in the 18th century through the missionary J.G. Camel's description given to J. Petiver of an animal said to have come from the Philippines. Petiver published Camel's description in 1705 and named the animal Cercopithecus luzonis minimus which was the basis for Linnaeus' (1758) Simia syrichta[8] and eventually Carlito syrichta, the current scientific name.[7][9]
The
Anatomy and morphology
The Philippine tarsier measures 85 to 160 mm (3.35 to 6.30 in) in height, making it one of the smallest primates. The small size makes it difficult to spot. The mass for males is between 80–160 g (2.8–5.6 oz), usually lighter for females, somewhat heavier than other tarsiers such as the pygmy tarsier.[10] The average adult is about the size of an adult human fist.
The female tarsier has multiple sets of breasts, but the only functional set is at the pectoralis.[11] The other breasts are used as anchor points for the newborn tarsiers. The gestation period lasts 180 days, or 6 months, after which only one tarsier is born. The newborn tarsier is born with much fur and eyes open. Its body and head length is about 70 mm (2.8 in), and its tail is around 115 mm (4.5 in) long.
Like all tarsiers, the Philippine tarsier's eyes are fixed in its skull; they cannot move in their sockets. Instead, a special adaptation in the neck allows its round head to be rotated 180°. Their eyes are disproportionately large, having the largest eye-to-body weight ratio of all mammals.[12] These huge eyes provide this nocturnal animal with excellent night vision.[13] In bright light, the tarsier's eyes can constrict until the pupil appears to be only a thin spot. In low light or darkness, the pupil can dilate and fill up almost the entire eye.[14] The large membranous ears are mobile,[15] appearing to be almost constantly moving, allowing the tarsier to hear any movement.
The Philippine tarsier has thin, rough fur which is colored gray to dark brown. The narrow tail, usually used for balance, is bald except for a tuft of hair at the end, and is about twice the body length. Its elongated "tarsus", or ankle bone, which gives the tarsier its name, allows it to jump at least 3 m (9.8 ft) from tree to tree.[13] Its long digits are tipped with rounded pads that allow C. syrichta to cling easily to trees and to grip almost any surface. The thumb is not truly opposable, but the first toe is. All of the digits have flattened nails, except for the second and third toes, which have sharp claws specialized for grooming.[16]
Their dental formula is 2:1:3:31:1:3:3, with relatively small upper canines.[15]
Ecology
The Philippine tarsier is primarily insectivorous, its diet consists of insects, spiders, small crustaceans, and small vertebrates such as small lizards and birds. C. syrichta preys on live insects, particularly crickets and grasshoppers. Upon seizing its prey, the tarsier carries it to its mouth using both hands.[17]
Geographic range and habitat
The Philippine tarsier, as its name suggests, is endemic to the Philippine archipelago.[18] C. syrichta populations are generally found in the southeastern part of the archipelago. Established populations are present primarily on the islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao. It has also been found on various isolated islands within its known range, such as Maripipi Island, Siargao Island, Basilan Island and Dinagat Island.[1]
The Philippine tarsier's habitat is the second-growth, secondary forest, and primary forest from sea level to 700 m (2,300 ft).[18] Its habitat also includes tropical rainforest with dense vegetation and trees that offer it protection such as tall grasses, bushes, and bamboo shoots. It prefers dense, low-level vegetation in secondary forests, with perching sites averaging 2 m (6 ft 7 in) above the ground.[19]
Early studies showed that the Philippine tarsier has a home
Both males and females are
Predators
Besides human hunters, feral cats banished from nearby communities are the species' main predators, though some large birds are known to prey on it, as well.[22] Because of its nocturnal and arboreal habits, the Philippine tarsier is most likely to fall prey to owls, or to small carnivores which it can encounter in its canopy homes.
Behavior
The Philippine tarsier is a shy,
It is
habitually clinging vertically to trees and capable of leaping from branch to branch.The Philippine tarsier is solitary. However, populations and individuals have been found to have either monogamous or polygamous mating patterns.[15]
Communication
Three different audible calls have been documented. One is its "loud call"—a piercing single note. The second sound is a soft, sweet, bird-like twill, a sound of contentment. When several tarsiers come together, the combined effect of this chirping is a locust-like sound.[24]
These mammals can also vocalize in an ultrasound frequency range of 70 kHz and can pick up frequencies above 90 kHz.[25] This form of vocal communication is used as a distress call made by infants when they are separated from their mothers. It is also the call made by males to their mates during mating season.
Tarsiers also communicate
Reproduction
The Philippine tarsier's gestation period lasts about six months, while the female's estrous cycle lasts 25–28 days.[15] The mating season lasts from April to May. The males deposit a mating plug in the female's vagina after intercourse. The female gives birth to one offspring per gestation. The infant is born with hair and with its eyes open. The females carry their infants in their mouths. A newborn can already cling to branches and in less than a month after birth, it can start leaping.
Newborns are breastfed until 60 days after birth. After two years of age, the tarsier is sexually mature and able to reproduce.
Status
In 1986, 1988, and 1990, the Philippine tarsier was assessed as
In 1996, it was assessed as
The most recent IUCN red list assessment, in 2008, classified the Philippine tarsier as
The Philippine tarsier is listed in Appendix II of
A tarsier sanctuary is maintained in the town of Corella (Bohol). Run by the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, it has a visitor centre and habitat preserve with an area of 7,000 m2 (75,000 sq ft) in a natural forest.[23][30]
Threats in the wild
For the past 45 million years, tarsiers have inhabited rainforests around the world, but now they exist on only a few islands in the Philippines, Borneo, and Indonesia.[21] In Bohol, the Philippine tarsier was a common sight in the southern part of the island until the 1960s. Since then, the number has dropped to around 700 on the island according to the Philippine Tarsier Foundation.[31]
Due to the quickly growing human population, which causes more and more forests to be converted to farmland, housing areas, and roads, the place where the Philippine tarsier can live its secluded life is disappearing.
Paradoxically, indigenous superstition, coupled with relatively thick rainforest, particularly in Sarangani province, has apparently preserved this endangered species.
Survival in captivity
Tarsiers in the Philippines have been sought out as pets or sold for trade, despite their low survival rate outside of their natural habitat, where they feed on live insects.
Tarsiers do not do well in captivity. Life expectancy decreases by 2 to 12 years (if taken from the wild), as compared to the 24 years the tarsier can live to in the wild.[14] The tarsier can develop sore eyes, which is an indication of a poor diet. Also, the lighting usually used in captivity can cause long-lasting damage to the eyes.[24] Another danger of captivity is the creature's tendency to commit suicide. Because the tarsier is often shy and nervous, many activities associated with captivity (such as camera flashes, being touched, and being kept in an enclosure) stresses the animal. Such stress leads to the tarsier hitting its head against objects, thus killing it because of its thin skull.[14]
Conservation legislation
Several laws have been passed to protect and conserve the Philippine tarsier. DENR Administrative Order No. 38, Series of 1991 (DAO No. 38) included the Philippine tarsier among the national protected wildlife species and proposed its listing under Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Moreover, the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group had given the species Conservation Priority Rating 4, which means that the species is highly vulnerable and threatened by habitat destruction and/or hunting.
Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1991 mandates the establishment of appropriate sanctuaries to preserve and protect the Philippine tarsier.
Proclamation 1030 was enacted on June 23, 1997, declaring the Philippine tarsier a specially protected faunal species. [1]
Also, legislation at other local levels includes provincial ordinances and proclamations (Bohol Province), municipal ordinances (Corella), and Barangay ordinances (Canapnapan, etc.).
On July 30, 2001, Republic Act No. 914, also known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, was enacted. The law provided for the conservation and protection of wildlife resources and their habitats, including the Philippine tarsier, and its inclusion as a flagship species.[36]
Conservation initiatives
Two groups are involved in the conservation of the Philippine tarsier: Endangered Species International (ESI) and the Philippine Tarsier Foundation. ESI works in Mindanao Island where the conservation group created a tarsier sanctuary, planted endangered trees to reforest tarsier habitat, and conducts research and educational activities. In partnership with local groups and government, ESI established the tarsier trail including a viewpoint on habitat. Interpretative boards about plants and animals found in the sanctuary are displayed.[37]
References
- ^ . Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ "Philippine tarsier". America Zoo. Retrieved November 15, 2006.
- ^ "Carlito Pizarras, Also known as tarsier man". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
- ^ Tramp, George Dewey Jr. Waray-English Dictionary Dunwoody Press Kensington, Maryland USA 1995 page 251
- ^ Makabenta, Eduardo A. Sr. Pagpurulungan nga Binisaya (2nd edition). Adbox Book Distributors and Eduardo A. Makabenta Sr. Foundation. Quezon City 2004 page 83
- ^ The Philippine tarsier www.bohol.ph Retrieved November 18, 2006.
- ^ S2CID 21220811.
- ^ Linnæus, Carl (1758). Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I (in Latin) (10th ed.). Holmiæ: Laurentius Salvius. p. 29. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- JSTOR 1373538.
- ^ Gron KJ (July 22, 2008). "Tarsier (Tarsius) Taxonomy, Morphology, & Ecology". Primate Factsheets. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
- ^ Hellingman, Jeroen. "The Philippine Tarsier". Bohol Philippines. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
- ^ arkive.org species profile Archived September 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Philippine tarsier". Philippines Travel Guide. Retrieved November 14, 2006.
- ^ a b c "Philippine tarsier known to commit violence". Philippine Inquirer. May 23, 1999.
- ^ a b c d e f Flannery, S (October 15, 2003). "Philippine tarsier". The Primata. Retrieved November 14, 2006.
- ^ "The Philippine tarsier". Comparative Mammalian Brain Collections, brainmuseum.org. Retrieved November 18, 2006.
- ^ a b c d Kubicek, C. (1999). "Tarsius syrichta". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved November 14, 2006.
- ^ a b Heaney; et al. (2002). "Tarsius syrichta". The Field Museum. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2006.
- .
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- ^ a b c "Tarsier – the littlest alien". Off The Fence. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved November 18, 2006.
- ^ France-Presse, A. (2004). "Furry mascot of RP forest lives on borrowed time". INQ7.net. Archived from the original on October 8, 2006. Retrieved November 14, 2006.
- ^ a b c d Hellingman, Jeroen (April 24, 2004). "A visit to the Philippine tarsier". Bohol, Philippines. Retrieved November 15, 2006.
- ^ JSTOR 1375291.
- ^ "Tiny primate uses 'private channel to talk'". February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
- ^ "DENR Administrative Order No. 48". North American Association for Environmental Education. Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2006.
- OCLC 62265494.
- ^ Unep-wcmc (2005). Checklist of mammals listed in the CITES appendices and in EC Regulation 338/97 (PDF) (7th ed.). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 3, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2006.
- ^ Wilson, D. E.; D. M. Reeder, eds. (1993). "Tarsius syrichta". Mammal Species of the World (2nd ed.). Archived from the original on October 22, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2006.
- ^ "The Travel Show – Philippines". BBC – British Broadcasting Corporation. May 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ "Efforts on to save tarsier exsistence [sic]".
- ^ Querijero, D. A. (April 24, 2005). "RP tarsier: A new star of the biodiversity world". Archived from the original on October 6, 2006. Retrieved November 11, 2006.
- ^ Santos, Matikas (July 5, 2013). "Tarsier, 'icon of PH tourism', sought out as pets—foundation". Inquirer.net. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
- ^ a b Philippine Wildlife: The Philippine Tarsier www.geocities.com Retrieved November 25, 2006.
- ^ "President of The Philippine – Proclamation No. 1030". May 27, 2000. Archived from the original on May 27, 2000. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ R.A. 9147 Chan Robles Virtual Law Library Retrieved December 13, 2006.
- ^ Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Efforts www.bwf.org Retrieved November 18, 2006.
External links
- More tarsier images
- Tarsiers, traditions and tourism all in one trip to Tupi
- CITES Appendix I, II, III
- DENR Administrative Order No. 48
- First Philippine National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity
- It’s more fun for tarsiers in Mindanao
- Video: Govt forbids display of tarsiers, GMA News
- View the tarsier genome in Ensembl
- View the tarSyr2 genome assembly in the UCSC Genome Browser.
- Data of the genome of Carlito syrichta, via NCBI
- Data of the genome assembly of Carlito syrichta (version Tarsius_syrichta-2.0.1/tarSyr2), via NCBI