Siau Island tarsier

The Siau tarsier ( Tarsius tumpara ) is a primate of the group of tarsiers. He was described in 2008.

Features

Siau - tarsiers resemble the closely related Sangihe tarsier, with which they were formerly grouped together into a kind. They are like all tarsiers very small primates. Their fur is gray brown on the back, the belly is gray. The tail is longer than the body, the tuft of hair at the end is weak. The gray- colored head is characterized as with all tarsiers through the big eyes, the skull is generally greater than that of the Sangihe tarsier. The ears are also large and mobile. The limbs show the typical tarsiers adjustments to the jumping locomotion: the hind legs and the tarsi are greatly extended.

Dissemination and lifestyle

These primates are endemic to the island of Siau, which belongs to the Indonesian Sangihe Islands and lies approximately halfway between Sulawesi and Mindanao. Habitat of these animals are forests.

Little is known about their way of life. Like all tarsiers are nocturnal tree dwellers that move vertically climbing and jumping through the branches. They live in small family groups, in contrast to the closely related tarsier on Sulawesi, the groups share to sleep on and sleep high up in the trees. The nightly duet songs of adult animals are short-lived and urine traces to mark the infirmary quickly fade. In the estimation of describer, it could be explained by an adaptation to hunting pressure by humans, since no other Koboldmakiart is so heavily hunted.

Endangering

Siau - tarsiers are highly endangered. Your home island is only 125 km ² and is also very densely populated (311 inhabitants / km ²). Their habitat is increasingly restricted, there are no protected areas on the island. Moreover, they are very heavily hunted for their meat. Another potential danger is the strong volcanic activity of the island, by a major outbreak, the remaining population could be wiped out.

The IUCN lists the Siau tarsier - even before the scientific description - as " threatened with extinction " ( critically endangered ).