# Philippine Tarsier (*Carlito syrichta*)

> The Philippine tarsier is a tiny nocturnal primate found only in the forests of the southern Philippines. Weighing just 80 to 160 g and small enough to fit in a human hand, it has enormous eyes, each larger than its brain, and can leap more than 40 times its own body length between branches. Tarsiers are strictly carnivorous, live around 10 to 12 years in the wild, and are classed as Near Threatened.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Near Threatened
- **Range:** Philippine tarsier on Bohol, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao in the Philippines — lowland and montane forest fragments.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/tarsier/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Primates
- **Family:** Tarsiidae
- **Genus:** Carlito

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Carlito syrichta |
| Diet | Carnivore — insects, lizards, and small vertebrates |
| Habitat | Lowland and montane forests of the Philippines |
| Lifespan | 10–12 years in the wild |
| Weight | 80–160 g (0.08–0.16 kg); fits in a human hand |
| Top speed | Leaps over 40 body lengths; up to 24 km/h in bursts |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened (IUCN) |

## Enormous eyes and night vision

The tarsier's most striking feature is its pair of huge, fixed eyes, each roughly the size of its brain, which give it superb vision in near-total darkness. Because the eyes cannot move in their sockets, the tarsier instead rotates its head almost 180 degrees in each direction, like an owl, to scan for prey. Large membranous ears and sensitive hearing complete a body built entirely around hunting at night.

## A leaping specialist

Tarsiers are extraordinary jumpers, with greatly elongated ankle bones (the tarsus that gives them their name) acting like springs. From a standing cling on a vertical trunk, a tarsier can launch itself more than 40 body lengths in a single leap, snatching insects out of the air or landing precisely on the next branch. In short bursts they move through the forest at speeds of up to 24 km/h (15 mph).

## A purely carnivorous primate

Unusually for a primate, the tarsier eats no plant matter at all. Its diet is entirely animal: insects such as crickets, beetles, and moths, plus the occasional small lizard, bird, or even snake. It hunts by sitting still and listening, then pouncing with both hands to seize prey and deliver a killing bite.

## Habitat and behaviour

The Philippine tarsier lives in the lowland and montane forests of islands such as Bohol, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao, favouring dense secondary growth and tangled vegetation. It is nocturnal and largely solitary, resting by day clinging to a vertical stem in thick cover. Individuals mark territories with scent and keep in contact using high-pitched calls, some of them ultrasonic and inaudible to humans.

## Conservation and threats

The Philippine tarsier is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, with numbers declining as its forest home is cleared. Habitat loss from logging and agriculture is the main pressure, compounded by capture for the pet trade and disturbance from tourism. Tarsiers are highly stress-prone in captivity, so protecting wild forest and well-managed sanctuaries are the most effective safeguards.

## Lifespan and reproduction

In the wild tarsiers live around 10 to 12 years. Females give birth to a single, well-developed baby after a long gestation of about six months, and the newborn can cling to fur and even climb within days. Mothers sometimes carry infants in their mouths or park them on a branch while foraging nearby.

## Frequently asked questions

### How big is a Philippine tarsier?

The Philippine tarsier is one of the smallest primates, weighing just 80 to 160 g (0.08 to 0.16 kg) and measuring around 15 cm in body length. It is small enough to sit comfortably in the palm of a human hand.

### Why do tarsiers have such big eyes?

Tarsiers are nocturnal and their huge eyes gather as much light as possible for hunting in near darkness. Each eye is about the size of the animal's brain, and because the eyes cannot move, the tarsier turns its head almost 180 degrees to look around.

### What do tarsiers eat?

Tarsiers are strictly carnivorous, feeding on insects such as crickets, beetles, and moths. They also catch small vertebrates including lizards, birds, and even small snakes, making them the only entirely meat-eating primates.

### How far can a tarsier jump?

A tarsier can leap more than 40 times its own body length in a single bound, thanks to its elongated ankle bones. This lets it cross wide gaps between trees and snatch flying insects in mid-air.

### Are tarsiers endangered?

The Philippine tarsier is currently listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Its numbers are falling mainly because of forest clearance, along with capture for the pet trade and disturbance from tourism.

### How long do tarsiers live?

In the wild, Philippine tarsiers live around 10 to 12 years. They are highly sensitive to stress, which makes them very difficult to keep alive in captivity.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Carlito syrichta.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Carlito%20syrichta&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Carlito syrichta. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Carlito_syrichta/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/tarsier/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.