The Tiny, Terrific Tarsier Trivia Quiz

Answer: Asia

Tarsiers are found exclusively in South-East Asia, specifically in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Fossil evidence shows that they lived in North America, Northern Africa and Europe approximately 50 million years ago during the Eocene and Paleocene epochs.

Answer: False

Due to their forward-facing eyes, grasping digits and brain structure, tarsiers are classified as primates. Although they are among the smallest of the primates, their brains share neurological connections and layouts that are unique to the primate group.

Answer: To see at night

Tarsiers have the largest eyes relative to body size of any mammal on earth. Their eyes are 16mm (just over half an inch) across on average, and are larger than their brains. The reason for such large eyes is to compensate for the lack of the tapetum lucidum, which allows other nocturnal animals to see at night.

Answer: Are locked in place

The large eyes of the tarsier are fixed in their sockets so can not move. In order to compensate, tarsiers have specialized neck vertebrae which allow them to rotate their heads 180 degrees in either direction. Due to this adaptation, tarsiers can see 360 degrees around them.

Answer: Otters

Among the animals that prey on tarsiers are arboreal and ground snakes, birds of prey, monitor lizards, and feral cats. The latter pose a huge risk near human habitation. Tarsiers are also vulnerable to habitat loss and human interference.

Answer: Their size

Tarsier babies are the largest relative to the size of the mother of any primate. In fact, they are approximately 25-30% of the mother's weight. That is equivalent to a 120 lb woman giving birth to a 30 lb baby! The offspring are born with a large brain, a full coat of hair, and a big brain.

They can also climb well within 24 hours of birth. Despite these advantages, tarsier young can not survive on their own.

Answer: Carnivorous

Tarsiers are obligate carnivores, meaning they must eat meat, and cannot obtain the nutrition they need from plant matter. They consume mostly insects, but also hunt spiders, lizards, frogs, snakes, small birds, and bats. Tarsiers catch a large portion of their prey directly in mid-air or grab it from branches, leaves, and the ground. They are the world's only entirely carnivorous primate.

Answer: False

No, they do not make good pets. Tarsiers are highly sensitive to touch, sound, and light, and are very shy. They can not tolerate being handled by humans or being in captivity, which causes severe stress and leads to head banging and self-harm. Tarsiers can live up to 24 years in the wild, yet only live a very short time in captivity.

Answer: Leaping

Tarsiers are definitely built for leaping, although they are also deft at night hunting and vertical clinging. Their legs are twice the length of their bodies, giving them the longest legs relative to their body size of any primate.The name, 'tarsier' comes from their very long tarsal (ankle) bones. Their hind legs can launch them up to 40 times their body length.

Answer: Mobbing

Tarsiers engage in the mobbing of predators. When a tarsier perceives a threat, it will emit an alarm call to alert the group. The males, including adolescent males, and those from other groups, converge on the site screaming, biting, lunging, and leaping from branch to branch. This gives the impression of a large, aggressive army.