They Are Not Monkeys, They Are Tarsiers
· Although it is sometimes tagged as the “smallest monkey in the world” and considered as one of the smallest primates in the world, the Philippine tarsier is not a monkey.
· This small nocturnal primate with enormous round eyes is nearly related to lemurs and monkeys, but they belong to another suborder, the haplorrhini. Thus, the claim that the Philippine tarsier is the “smallest monkey” is considered dubious.
· The size of a typical Philippine tarsier is as big as, or even smaller than, an adult man’s fist. They eat insects and small lizards, and they usually use their mouth in catching their preys but sometimes use their elongated fingers (and also by jumping) to prey on larger items.
Above: Small and adorable, a Philippine tarsier is typically not larger than a man’s hand.
· The name “tarsier” is derived from the “tarsus” bone found in the animal’s feet; the tarsus bones of the tarsier are exceptionally elongated, helpful in the animal’s locomotion as it is known to be a vertical clinger.
· The Bohol province, located in the central part of the Philippines, is known for its tarsier sanctuaries located near the world-renowned Chocolate Hills, and also in the hills of Corella (a town ten kilometers away from Tagbilaran, the capital city of Bohol).
· In the Philippines, the tarsiers are also found in the islands of Mindanao, Samar, and Leyte. Furthermore, the country does not allow the capturing of these animals to have them as domestic pets.
· Tarsiers are also found in different islands in some Southeast Asia Countries like Malaysia and Indonesia where the pygmy tarsier, which is even smaller than the Philippine tarsier, can be found.
Above: Also called the “eighth wonder of the world”, the Chocolate Hills is one of the famous homes of the Philippine tarsier
