Where does the Philippine tarsier live?
The Philippine tarsier exists only in the Philippines. It is found in the south-eastern part of the archipelago, especially on the islands of Bohol, Samar and Leyte, and also on Maripipi, Siargao, Basilan and Dinagat. It belongs to the Tarsiidae family, about 45 million years old, whose name comes from its elongated "tarsus", an ankle bone. It is one of the smallest primates: 85 to 160 mm tall.
What does the Philippine tarsier eat?
It eats mainly insects, but also spiders, small crustaceans and small vertebrates such as lizards and birds. It preys on live insects, particularly crickets and grasshoppers, and carries its prey to its mouth with both hands. It is a nocturnal animal, whose eyes, huge compared with its body, have the largest eye-to-body-weight ratio of all mammals: they give it excellent night vision.
Is the Philippine tarsier endangered?
The IUCN lists it as Near Threatened. According to Wikipedia, it is on the list of the 25 most threatened primates in the world. Although a protected species, many Filipinos capture it as a pet: the wild population was estimated at only 1,000 individuals in 2011.
