For a moment I thought I met real Gremlins! Introducing the extremely rare Philippine Tarsier, one of the smallest primates on earth. Tarsiers have enormous sized eyes, which are as large as their brains. Some call them the cutest “monkey” on earth. What do you think?
Other fun facts about these cute primates: Tarsiers are very shy nocturnal animals, but I managed to get a few photos for you. Look at those eyes!
Tarsier wrapped up in a bed of leaves
Photos taken by Todd L. Cohen in Bohol, Philippines!
Tarsiers have little tiny hands and feet
The Philippine Tarsier diet is nearly exclusively insects, which they catch by jumping at them (on occasion these little guys also eat birds, snakes, bats, lizards). They’re quick jumpers. Tarsiers look asleep at one moment, and then jump to another branch the next.
Tarsiers are really tiny
As you can see, the Philippine Tarsier is really tiny – they fit in my hands! Just 4-6 inches.
The Philippine Tarsier is a nocturnal primates. Very sleepy!
They say a visit to Bohol is not complete without seeing the famous Philippine Tarsier, and I’d have to agree. They’re unlike anything I’ve ever seen (besides Gizmo from the Gremlins!).
Tarsiers have little tiny fingers and toes to hug the tree branch
Tarsier eyes are too big to move in their sockets, so they rotate their head 180 degrees.
The Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta or Carlito syrichta) is an endangered speciesendemic to the Philippines. The tarsier species is believed to be 45 million years old.
Tarsiers are so little!
Tarsiers are indigenous to Southeast Asia; Bohol is one of just a few islands where the Philippine Tarsier can be found.
Video of a Tarsier eating a cricket: http://www.youtube.com/embed/nuH48JW8XrU
More info on Wikipedia , Bohol.ph, and here.
It wasn’t the first time seeing cute wildlife in my trip – the baby orangutans, baby elephants, and baby monkeys in Borneo were adorable! I also saw other types of animals up close - macaques, proboscis monkeys, sharks, camels, pythons, and more!
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