Wallace's tarsier
| Wallace's tarsier | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Family: | Tarsiidae |
| Genus: | Tarsius |
| Species: | T. wallacei |
| Binomial name | |
| Tarsius wallacei Merker et al. (2010) | |
Wallace's tarsier, Tarsius wallacei is a recently described species of tarsier. It is found in the forests of Central Sulawesi where there are two separate populations. It is a small brown arboreal mammal less than 15 cm (6 in) long.
Taxonomy
Wallace's tarsier was first described as T. wallacei by Stefan Merker et al. in 2010, the type locality being about 9 km (6 mi) south of Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, near the village of Uwemanje. There are two separate populations which are morphologically similar but differ in the size of the animal. The new species was named in honour of the British naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace.[2]
Description
Wallace's tarsier is similar in size and appearance to other lowland tarsiers and has a head-and-body length of between 10 and 15 cm (4 and 6 in). It is larger than the pygmy tarsier (Tarsius pumilus). It has large eyes, a clearly defined facial-mask, white spots behind its ears and a long tail with a large bushy tail-tuft. Its fur is yellowish-brown and its throat is copper-coloured. Although morphologically similar to other species of tarsier found on Sulawesi, it has a distinctive duetting call, and genetic analysis shows that its mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal DNA sequences, and its microsatellite allele frequencies, are unique.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Wallace's tarsier is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. There are two separate populations separated by Palu Bay, the capital city and the south part of the Isthmus of Palu. The southern population occupies an area of approximately 50 km2 (19 sq mi). This tarsier is arboreal and is found in both primary and secondary forest and in degraded areas.[1]
Status
Wallace's tarsier has a limited range, especially the southern form. The total population is unknown but is thought to be decreasing as forest is cleared to make way for plantation crops. The International Union for Conservation of Nature does not have enough information to assess the conservation status of this tarsier, so it has rated it as "data deficient". The northern population includes the Gunung Sojol Nature Reserve within its range. However, the southern population has such a small range that any setback to the population could have a high impact.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Merker, S. (2011). "Tarsius wallacei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- 1 2 Merker, S.; Driller, C.; Dahruddin, H.; Wirdateti; Sinaga, W.; Perwitasari-Farajallah, D.; Shekelle, M. (2010). "Tarsius wallacei: A new tarsier species from central Sulawesi occupies a discontinuous range". International Journal of Primatology. 31 (6): 1107–1122. doi:10.1007/s10764-010-9452-0.