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Tarsier

Tarsier

Carlito syrichta

Near Threatened
Location

Southeast Asia (Philippines, Borneo, Sumatra)

Size

10-15 cm (4-6 inches) body length

Diet

Carnivore

Habitat

Tropical rainforest trees

About This Animal

Tarsiers are tiny primates with enormous eyes that cannot move in their sockets, forcing them to rotate their heads 180 degrees like owls. Each eye is larger than their brain, and they can leap 40 times their body length between trees in complete darkness.

Amazing Facts

Each eye weighs more than its entire brain

Cannot move their eyes so must turn their head 180 degrees

Can leap 40 times their body length between trees

Have the longest fingers relative to body size of any primate

Commit suicide in captivity due to stress - literally die of depression