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Wildlife Guide · Philippines & Indonesia (Sulawesi and islands)

Tarsier

Infraorder Tarsiiformes — ~11 species in family Tarsiidae

The world's smallest primate — enormous eyes, silent hunter of the night.

Varies by species (Vulnerable to Endangered)
A Philippine tarsier with enormous round eyes and tiny body gripping a thin branch in tropical forest, its long fingers curled around the wood.

Image: Source: Wikimedia Commons — verify license before production

In brief

Tarsiers are tiny nocturnal primates of South-east Asian islands, with the largest eyes relative to body size of any mammal; most species are Vulnerable to Endangered due to habitat loss and the pet trade.

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated

Tarsiers are tiny nocturnal primates found only on islands of South-east Asia — the Philippines, Sulawesi and surrounding Indonesian islands, and parts of Borneo. They are among the smallest primates on Earth, weighing as little as 57 grams, yet their eyes are the largest relative to body size of any mammal. Tarsiers are the sole living members of the infraorder Tarsiiformes, an ancient primate lineage. All species are forest-dependent and threatened by habitat loss, the pet trade and disturbance from tourism. Unlike slow lorises, tarsiers are not venomous, but they share the same vulnerability to capture for the illegal wildlife trade.

~11

Recognised tarsier species

57 g

Weight of the smallest species

Appendix II

CITES listing

100%

Carnivorous — the only fully carnivorous primate

Figures sourced from IUCN Red List — Tarsiidae assessments, CITES — Checklist of CITES Species, Philippine Tarsier Foundation .

Tarsier: Quick Facts

Vital statistics and key facts about the Tarsier
Weight 57–150 g depending on species
Diet Fully carnivorous — insects, lizards, small birds
Activity Strictly nocturnal
Eyes Largest relative to body size of any mammal
Locomotion Vertical clinging and leaping
CITES Appendix II

Scientific Classification

Scientific classification of the Tarsier
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Suborder Haplorhini
Infraorder Tarsiiformes
Family Tarsiidae

Conservation Status

IUCN Status
Most species Vulnerable to Endangered. Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta) listed as Near Threatened; several Sulawesi species Endangered.
Population
Unknown for most species; declining across all islands
Trend
Decreasing due to habitat loss and pet trade
Assessed
Varies by species
CITES
Appendix II

Key Facts: Tarsier

  • Tarsiers have the largest eyes relative to body size of any mammal.
  • They are the only fully carnivorous primates, eating insects, lizards and small birds.
  • Tarsiers cannot survive in captivity on improper diets — many die within months.
  • All species are island endemics, making them especially vulnerable to habitat loss.
  • The pet trade and tourist handling cause severe stress and mortality.
  • Philippine and Sulawesi species face different threats but share forest dependence.

An ancient primate lineage

Tarsiers belong to the infraorder Tarsiiformes, a branch of primates that diverged from other groups more than 50 million years ago. Once widespread across Asia, Europe and North America, tarsiers now survive only on South-east Asian islands. Roughly 11 species are recognised, grouped into three genera: Carlito and Tarsius (Philippines and Sulawesi region) and Cephalopachus (Bornean and Sumatran islands). Each island population is often genetically distinct, making local extinctions irreversible. Tarsiers cannot rotate their eyes in their sockets; instead, they rotate their head almost 180 degrees, like an owl.

Nocturnal hunters

Tarsiers are strictly nocturnal and carnivorous — unique among primates. They hunt insects, spiders, lizards, small birds and bats, leaping up to two metres to catch prey. Enormous eyes gather light for night vision; large ears detect the faintest rustle. Long hind limbs and a elongated ankle bone (the tarsus, which gives the animal its name) power explosive vertical leaps. Tarsiers cling vertically to branches, never moving on all fours. They are solitary or live in monogamous pairs with offspring, communicating through ultrasonic calls beyond human hearing.

Tarsiers and the pet trade

Tarsiers are frequently captured for the illegal pet trade and tourist attractions in the Philippines and Indonesia. Unlike slow lorises, they are not venomous, but they are equally unsuited to captivity. Tarsiers have extremely high metabolic rates and need live insect prey; many die within weeks of capture from stress and improper feeding. Tourist facilities that allow handling of tarsiers for photographs cause chronic stress, leading to self-mutilation and early death. Ethical sanctuaries keep tarsiers in dark, quiet enclosures with no public contact. CITES lists tarsiers on Appendix II, requiring permits for international trade.

Conservation across islands

Habitat loss from logging, agriculture and mining threatens every tarsier species. Philippine tarsiers have lost lowland forest across Bohol, Samar and Mindanao. Sulawesi species face similar pressures as plantations expand. Because tarsiers are island endemics with small ranges, even modest habitat loss can eliminate a population. Protected areas, ecotourism that prohibits handling, and enforcement against the pet trade are the main conservation tools. WARN's slow loris and orangutan work in Indonesia and Malaysia overlaps tarsier range, where shared anti-trafficking and habitat protection efforts benefit all nocturnal primates.

What WARN Does

WARN funds slow loris rescue and anti-trafficking work in Indonesia and Malaysia — countries where tarsiers face the same pet trade and habitat pressures. This tarsier guide is free public education about one of South-east Asia's most fragile primates.

If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.

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Tarsier: Frequently Asked Questions

How big is a tarsier?
Tarsiers are among the smallest primates, weighing 57–150 grams depending on species — roughly the size of a tennis ball. Their bodies are 8–15 cm long, with tails of similar length.

Why do tarsiers have such big eyes?
Tarsiers are nocturnal hunters and their enormous eyes gather maximum light. Each eye is larger than their brain. They cannot move their eyes in their sockets, so they rotate their head up to 180 degrees instead.

Are tarsiers related to lemurs?
Tarsiers are more closely related to monkeys and apes (simians) than to lemurs, though they look superficially lemur-like. They belong to their own ancient infraorder, Tarsiiformes.

Can you keep a tarsier as a pet?
No. Tarsiers are fully carnivorous, need live insect prey and suffer extreme stress in captivity. Most captured tarsiers die within weeks. The pet trade is a major threat to wild populations.

Where do tarsiers live?
Tarsiers live only on islands of South-east Asia — the Philippines, Sulawesi and surrounding Indonesian islands, and parts of Borneo. Each island often hosts distinct species.

Are tarsiers endangered?
Most tarsier species are Vulnerable to Endangered due to habitat loss and the pet trade. Island endemism makes local extinctions particularly irreversible.

What do tarsiers eat?
Tarsiers eat Fully carnivorous — insects, lizards, small birds. Tarsiers are tiny nocturnal primates of South-east Asian islands, with the largest eyes relative to body size of any mammal; most species are Vulnerable to Endangered due to habitat loss and the pet trade.

Are tarsiers dangerous?
Unlike slow lorises, tarsiers are not venomous, but they share the same vulnerability to capture for the illegal wildlife trade. They are strictly nocturnal. Give wild tarsiers space; do not corner or handle them.

How long do tarsiers live?
A precise wild lifespan for tarsiers is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. Tarsiers are tiny nocturnal primates of South-east Asian islands, with the largest eyes relative to body size of any mammal; most species are Vulnerable to Endangered due to habitat loss and the pet trade. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

Sources & References

Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.

Terms used on this page

Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.

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