Carlito syrichta (Linnaeus, 1758)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6631893 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6631836 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/CA4CA666-FFFC-9C3C-FAEF-F4647AA0FCE3 |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Carlito syrichta |
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Philippine Tarsier
French: Tarsier des Philippines / German: Philippinen-Koboldmaki / Spanish: Tarsero de Filipinas
Other common names: Bohol Tarsier (fraterculus), Mindanao Tarsier (carbonarius)
Taxonomy. Simia syrichta Linnaeus, 1758 ,
“Luzon.”
There is no type specimen; Linnaeus described this species from a naturalist’s account. Over time, the island of Leyte has become accepted as the type locality. The current taxonomy indicates one species, with three subspecies considered to be of dubious validity. The subspecies are each restricted to separate islands that were connected into one landmass as recently as the end of the Pleistocene, and there is little morphological variation. This does not mean there is no taxonomic variation among Philippine tarsiers. Rather, museum specimens are heavily biased toward two locations on Mindanao, and much more phylogeographic research is needed. There are a number of isolated island populations that may prove to be distinct, including in particular those of Sarangani, Basilan, Sulu, Dinagat, and Siargao. Taxonomic variation might be reflected in the differing geological histories of the eastern and western halves of Mindanao. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
C. s. fraterculus G. S. Miller, 1911 — SE Philippines on Bohol I. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 11.8-14 cm, tail 14.7-28.8 cm; weight 119-153 g (males) and 110-132 g (females). Males are larger than females. The Philippine Tarsier is characterized by a relatively long skull. There is no black paranasal spot or a postauricular light spot. Ears are smaller than those of eastern tarsiers (7arsius). The tail tuft is the least hirsute of all tarsiers, and it appears naked except at the very end. There may be regional variation in this trait, with northern populations having the most reduced tuft. Feet are hairless, and digits are notably elongated, particularly the middle fingers. Nails are reduced and triangular. The nominate subspecies syrichta is larger and more rufous in color than the other subspecies, which are generally grayishbrown with a yellowish face. The “Bohol Tarsier” (C. s. fraterculus) is distinguished by its relatively small size. The “Mindanao Tarsier” (C. s. carbonarius) is said to differ from the other subspecies in color and certain dental and cranial features.
Habitat. Primary and secondary lowland and coastal forest fragments. Like other tarsiers,it is assumed that this genus is more abundant in primary habitats, but more visible in secondary habitats. Thusfar it has been systematically studied only in disturbed habitats. Its known elevational range is 0-800 m. Use of supports has been analyzed for male syrichta in the wild: leaping made up 58% of the locomotory bouts, climbing 26%, and quadrupedal walking 10-8%. Use of vertical supports was most common at 64%, with use of oblique supports at 20% and horizontal supports at 20%. Philippine Tarsiers occasionally go to the ground, but for only a few seconds.
Food and Feeding. The Philippine Tarsier eats mainly insects and small vertebrates (particularly frogs and small lizards). Individuals of the Mindanao Tarsier will descend to riverbanks in search of fish and crabs, which they catch by hand. Captive individuals will eat live shrimp and fish in a bowl of water.
Breeding. Female Philippine Tarsiers have a reproductive cycle of ¢.24 days. Mating takes place throughout the year, and a single young is born after a gestation of c.180 days. Juveniles are more uniformly colored than adults. Greenish eye color is common among young individuals, before it gradually changes to brick-orange later in life. Prevalence of the green-eyed morph appears to be higher and change to brick-orange eyes takes place later in life than for green-eyed morphs of other tarsier genera. Several wild-caught Philippine Tarsiers lived for 12-14 years in captivity, yielding minimum age estimates of 16 years, and although they showed no clinical signs of advanced age, they had the manner of old animals. The potential life span may be c.20 years.
Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but it is nocturnal and arboreal.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. A study of the subspecies syrichta by M. Dagosto and coworkers at Mount Pangasugan on Leyte found males foraging on their own and, generally, sleeping on their own. Males were not observed in close proximity (less than 3 m apart). The home range was 0-6-2 ha, smaller than has been observed for the Western Tarsier ( Cephalopachus bancanus ). Minimum nightly travel distances were 260-556 m. Male and female home ranges coincide. The social structure of the Philippine Tarsieris little known, but mated pairs and their offspring are believed to form small groups, even though they may not sleep together. Individuals have 3-4 sleeping sites located near the border of their home ranges; these sites are near the ground (below 1 m) and typically in dense vegetation of ferns, saplings, and bamboo surrounding a large tree, particularly Artocarpus and Ficus (both Moraceae ) and Pterocarpus (Fabaceae) . They also travel and hunt near the ground—more than two-thirds of the time 2 m or less above the ground. Captive Philippine Tarsiers huddle together and intertwine their tails and tolerate larger social groupings than are commonly observed in the wild.
Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. The individual subspecies of the Philippine Tarsier have not been assessed. Although it is protected by law in the Philippines,it is threatened by extensive loss of habitat within its patchy and highly fragmented distribution. It is also harvested as food, collected for the pet trade, and frequently used as a tourist attraction. The Philippine Tarsier Foundation in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, is dedicated to preserving the Bohol Tarsier . In 1997, the Foundation established a 7-4ha forest reserve not far from the town of Corella, and it is active in captive breeding, research, and tourism. The Philippine Tarsier occurs in six protected areas: Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Calauit Island Wildlife Sanctuary and the national parks of Initao, Mount Apo, Mount Malindang, and Rajah Sikatuna.
Bibliography. de Boer & de Boer-van der Vlist (1973), Brandon-Jones et al. (2004), Catchpole & Fulton (1943), Cook (1939), Dagosto & Gebo (1996/1997, 1998), Dagosto et al. (2001, 2003), Dutrillaux & Rumpler (1988), Evans (1967), Fulton (1939), Gorog & Sinaga (2008), Groves (2001), Haring & Wright (1989), Haring et al. (1985), Heaney (1993), Heaney & Rabor (1982), Heaney et al. (1998), Hill et al. (1952), Jachowski & Pizzaras (2005), Lewis (1939), McNab & Wright (1987), Merker et al. (2008), Montagna & Machida (1966), Musser & Dagosto (1987), Neri-Arboleda (2010), Neri-Arboleda et al. (2002), Niemitz (1984d, 1984e), Niemitz et al. (1991), Ramsier et al. 2011), Reason (1978), Rickart et al. (1993), Sanborn (1952), Schreiber (1968), Shekelle (2008a), Shekelle & Nietsch (2008), Ulmer (1960, 1963), Wharton (1950), Wright & Simons (1984), Wright, Simons & Gursky (2003), Yustian (2007).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
