Spectral tarsier

Tarsius tarsier

A small nocturnal primate from Sulawesi and nearby islands. Huge eyes, long hindlimbs, and vertical clinging-and-leaping define its appearance.

Key facts

Spectral tarsier (Tarsius tarsier) is a carnivore animal classified as Mammal · Primates · Tarsiidae.
Primary habitats are forest, with a range across Indomalayan · Australasian.
Activity is nocturnal, sociality is pair, and conservation status is VU (Vulnerable).
A small nocturnal primate from Sulawesi and nearby islands.
Spectral tarsiers use lowland forest, secondary forest, forest edges, and wooded farmland.

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Spectral tarsiers use lowland forest, secondary forest, forest edges, and wooded farmland. Dense stems and abundant insects are important.

They have enormous eyes, elongated hindlimbs, and a long tail. Because the eyes are fixed in the sockets, the head turns widely.

They rest by day in vegetation or tree hollows. At night, they cling vertically to stems and leap toward insects and small prey.

They are carnivorous, eating insects, spiders, and small vertebrates. Unlike most primates, they consume little or no plant material.

Pairs or small family groups are common. Females bear single, well-developed infants that can cling to branches early.

Large eyes support night vision, but the animals can be sensitive to light, noise, and disturbance at viewing sites.