Mammals · Primates · Tarsiidae

Philippine Tarsier

Tarsius syrichta

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

Spotted something wrong?

It has the largest eye-to-body ratio of any mammal, with individual eyes bigger than its own brain.

Weight

80 g – 165 g

Size

8.5 cm – 16 cm

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

RainforestCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Near Threatened Rainforest Mammal

1countries 2parks2same family

Fun facts

Unable to move its eyes within their sockets, it has evolved neck vertebrae that let it turn its head almost 180 degrees, much as an owl does.
It eats insects and occasionally small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs and small birds.
It lives in lowland rainforest, bamboo stands and dense scrub on several islands of the Philippines.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Lowland rainforest, bamboo stands and dense scrub of the islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao in the Philippines
Birth weight: No precise birth weight found; born very well developed for its size
Size at birth: Born fully furred and with its eyes open, able to climb within a day
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years
Gestation / incubation: ~6 months (the traditional approximation; studies of related species suggest ~178-179 days)
Litter / clutch size: 1 young per birth
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 13.5-16 years in captivity

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web; ResearchGate (tarsier longevity study); A-Z Animals; Zoo-EKZO; Animal Spot; Animalia.bio