The spectral tarsier (Tarsius spectrum, also called Tarsius tarsier ) is a species of tarsier found on the island of Selayar in Indonesia. It is apparently less specialized than the Philippine tarsier or Horsfield's tarsier; for example, it lacks adhesive toes. It is the type species for the genus Tarsius. While its range used to also include the population on nearby southwestern Sulawesi, this population has been reclassified as a separate species, Tarsius fuscus. Some of the earlier research published on Tarsius spectrum refers to the taxon that was recently reclassified and elevated to a separate species, the Gursky's spectral tarsier (Tarsius spectrumgurskyae).
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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Ambush predatorAmbush predators are carnivorous animals that capture or trap prey by stealth, luring, or by (typically instinctive) strategies utilizing an elemen...
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Island endemicIsland endemic animals are found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island. Animals or organisms that are indigenous to a place ar...
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JumpingJumping (saltation) can be distinguished from running, galloping, and other gaits where the entire body is temporarily airborne by the relatively l...
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ScansorialScansorial animals are those that are adapted to or specialized for climbing. Many animals climb not only in tress but also in other habitats, such...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withSpectral tarsiers are small primates. Their fur is soft and ranges from gray to buff-gray in color. These animals have long tails with tufts closer to the end of the tail. They have long, slender hands, feet, and digits. Their hands are adapted for clinging and gripping. Spectral tarsiers have very big eyes and in fact, their eyes are larger than their brain. The ears of these small animals are thin and membranous and can move independently.
Spectral tarsiers are found on the island of Selayar in Indonesia. They live in primary and secondary rainforests, mangrove forests, forest gardens, and in other habitats with shrubby cover.
Spectral tarsiers are nocturnal being active during the night. At this time they travel around until they find a feeding place. They may frequently stop to groom themselves. To locate their prey tarsiers use their independently moving ears. They are excellent climbers and leapers. In the morning when these small animals return to their sleeping sites, they "sing" either as a duet with their mate or in a family chorus. These songs serve as a signal to neighboring groups living around. Spectral tarsiers are very territorial and may fight with neighboring groups that come into their boundaries. They mark their territories with urine and scents from glands. These small animals live in pairs or small family groups. They spend all of their time resting and socializing by playing, snuggling, allogrooming, and food sharing. In order to communicate with each other Spectral tarsiers use trills and twitters, alarm calls, duet songs, and family choruses.
Spectral tarsiers are carnivores (insectivores). The feed mainly on moths, locusts, beetles and cicadas. They may occasionally consume small vertebrates, such as lizards or bats.
Spectral tarsiers are monogamous and have only one partner. However, they may be polygynous where males mate with multiple females. The breeding season usually occurs in May-November. The gestation period lasts around 6 months. Females give birth to a single infant, which is born fully furred and with its eyes open. Newborns can climb one day after birth. Mothers nurse their infants around 80 days and carry them in their mouths during the first 3 weeks. When the mother is foraging she usually parks her baby on a tree branch near foraging place. Young become independent after weaning and begin hunting on their own. Both males and females in this species become reproductively mature at 17 months of age.
Main threats to Spectral tarsiers are the loss of their habitat for agriculture, mining, illegal logging, and agricultural pesticides. In some areas of their range, these animals also suffer from pet trade.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Spectral tarsier total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
As insectivores, Spectral tarsiers play an important role in their environment controling populations of the insect community and having an impact on local food webs.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...