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Tarsiers: Tarsiidae

Tarsiers And People

Some people take tarsiers for pets. Some farmers mistakenly believe tarsiers eat crops and may kill the tarsiers. Actually, tarsiers help control some harmful insects, including grasshoppers, caterpillars, and moths.

FLYING ACROBAT

When preparing to leap from one tree branch to another, the tarsier rotates its head 180° toward the intended landing spot. Then pushing off from its perch using its powerful hind legs, it leaps backward. The body takes off like an acrobat's, twists around in mid-air, and aligns with the forward direction of the head. The tarsier then lands vertically, grasping the branch with its fingers and toes.

Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceMammalsTarsiers: Tarsiidae - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Tarsiers And People, Conservation Status, Philippine Tarsier (tarsius Syrichta): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET