unique animal

TARSIER

Scientifis classification:

Kingdom                       : Animalia                               

Phylum                          : Chordata

Class                              : Mammalia

Ordo                              : Primates

Subordo                         : Haplorrhini

Infraordo                       : Tasiiformes

Family                            : Tarsiidae

Genus                            : Tarsius

Species                           : Tarsius tarsier, T.bancanus, T.dentatus (T.dianae), T.lariang,     

                                        T.pelengensis, T.pumilus, T.sangirensis, T.syrichta

Subspecies                     : T.b.bancanus, T.b.borneanus, T.b.saltator

Conservative status       : Near Threatened

Tarsier ( Tarsius tarsier them and Tarsius pumilus ) is a unique and rare animals. Small primates is often referred to as the smallest monkey in the world, although this animal is not a monkey. At least there are 9 types of tarsiers in the world. 2 types are in the Philippines and the rest, 7 species found in Sulawesi Indonesia. The most well known is that there are two types in Indonesia yaitu Tarsius tarsier (Animal Ghosts/ Ghosts Apes) and Tarsius pumilus (pygmy tarsier, a small krabuku or Pygmy tarsier). All kinds of tarsier including rare and endangered animals in Indonesia.

Tarsius tarsier (Animal Ghosts/ Ghosts Ape/ Monkey Ghost) is a type of small primate, has a reddish brown body with gray skin color, wide-eyed with ears facing forward and have a wide shape.

Tarsier name taken based on the physical characteristics of the body they are privileged, is the elongated tarsal bones, which form their ankles so they can jump as far as 3 meters ( nearly 10 feet ) from one tree to another. Tarsier also has a long tail that is not hairy, except on the edges. Each animal 's hands and feet have five long fingers. The fingers have nails, but the second and third fingers with claws.

Tarsier is worth mentioning as a tiny primates because it has a length of about 10-15 cm and weighs about 80 grams. Even Tarsius pumilus or tertiary Pygmy tarsier is the smallest species only has a body length of between 93-98 millimeters and weighs 57 grams. Between 197-205 millimeters long tail.

Physical characteristics unique tarsier other is the size of a very large eyes. Tarsier eyes larger size than the size of his brain. Large size of the eyes is very useful for nocturnal creatures ( do activities at night ) is so that they can discern in the darkness of night.

Morphological features such as the animal 's basic color is gray hair or a combination Tarsier with red, yellow or orange brown. End of dark red hair, brown or black with a gray base. Membrane bending ears and almost no hair. Tail length to twice the length of the head to the body. Several species Tarsius show sexual dimorphism, with males larger animals than female animals.

Tarsier also has a unique head being able to rotate through 180 degrees to the right and to the left like an owl because the eye is not able to move. Ear endangered species is also able to be moved move to detect the presence of prey.

As nocturnal creatures, tarsiers just indulge in the afternoon until the evening while more daylight spent sleeping. Therefore Tarsier hunting at night. They are the most important prey are insects such as cockroaches, crickets. But sometimes protected wildlife in Indonesia is also prey on small reptiles, birds, and bats.

Tarsier spends most of its life in the trees. The animals mark their territory by area tree urine. Tarsier move by jumping from tree to tree with jumps up to as far as 3 meters. The animals even sleep and give birth to continue relying on the tree trunk. Tarsier can not walk on land, they jump when they are on the ground. Tibia and fibula bones in Tarsius had fusion on the basis of which play a role in dampening the pressure when the animal is jumping from one tree to another.

One again, the star of this very rare and unique hard to be bred outside their habitat. Even if placed in confinement, tarsiers will hurt himself to death because of stress.

Tarsier able to close their eyes when the magnitude of the hunt, the possibility to protect the eyes from injury while chasing prey. When jumping capable spun around and lengthen the fingers for grasping branches. Long tail serves to support the balance when jumping away. Long finger function scrawing support on various surfaces. Dental formula of 2:1:3:3 for the tarsier which the upper jaw and 1:1:3:3 on the lower jaw.

This nocturnal animal is a predator who specialized in jumping and gripping. Tarsier is the most primitive primates from Haplorrhini group. Haplorrhini like other primates, big eyes do not have a tapetum lucidum tarsiers are supposedly Tarsius evolved from a diurnal ancestor. Tarsier can also be included in the prosimian group, they include lemurs, Galago and the like are now known animals in a separate suborder of primates, Strepsirrhini, or also known as primitive primates. Haplorrhini tarsier as others, have hair on their nose.

Until now tarsiers classification is debatable whether tarsiers are included in the suborder Strepsirrhini (formerly known as the prosimian, a small primate group) or intermediate (in the middle) between suborder Haplorrhini (formerly known as Anthropoidae, large primate groups) and Strepsirrhini, because it shows the characteristic - characteristics between the two. Characteristics in common with the Strepsirrhini are nocturnal, large eyes, ears can be driven, have a " toilet claw " on the second and third toes and the mandible is composed of two bones. Characteristics similar to Haplorrhini is without rhinarium naked, without " dental comb ", mirrors the nose dry, the lower incisors are upright and placenta hemochorial.

Tarsiers could be found in the area with an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level , except for T.pumilus that can be found in areas with an altitude reaches 2200 m above sea level .

Tarsier also has properties like other animals that he would mark his own territory with urine circular area that tarsiers who otherwise would not go. Amazingly was that tarsiers have blood groups like humans are blood group O and the most unique was that tarsiers only have a couple or only mate once a lifetime and if the partner dies then a few weeks later he would die also follow her partner. So sometimes if human looking for a symbol of loyalty to the Tarsius spectrum can be one of the references.

Habitat is in the forests of North Sulawesi and South Sulawesi, as well as on the islands around Sulawesi as Suwu, Selayar, Siau, Sangihe and Peleng. In National Parks and Protected forests Bantimurung Nini in Bitung, North Sulawesi. Here tourists can easily and regularly enjoy the unique wildlife in the world. Tarsier can also be found in the Philippines (Bohol Island). Bulusaraung Bantimurung National Park, South Sulawesi, Tarsier better known by local people as " Balao clutches " or " rat squat " if translated into the Indonesian language.

Populations of endangered tarsier , the smallest primate in the world who live in the forests of Sulawesi estimated 1,800 remaining. It dropped dramatically when compared to 10 last year where the number of animals called latin Tarsius spectrum, there are still around 3,500. Even for Tarsius pumilus, allegedly very rare because rarely found anymore.

Tarsier population decline due to habitat destruction of primary forests as endangered species. Moreover not a few people who were arrested for consumption in a young child's party. Protected animals is used as a snack while sipping alcoholic beverages cap mice.