Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The Genera and Species of Tarsiidae

  • Published:
International Journal of Primatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We revise the taxonomy of the primate family Tarsiidae. We classify extant tarsiers in 3 genera—Tarsius, Cephalopachus, and Carlito—each of which originated in the Miocene, or earlier, and each of which is allopatrically distributed within a distinct biogeographic region: Sulawesi, Sundaland, and Greater Mindanao, respectively. Within the genus Tarsius, formerly regarded as a single species, Tarsius spectrum, we recognize 8 allopatric and parapatric species, 9 if the inclusion of pumilus is warranted, and note that more are likely to be described in the near future. We restrict Tarsius tarsier, the senior taxon of the genus, to the island of Selayar, off the tip of the southwestern peninsula of Sulawesi. In doing so, it is required that we resurrect Tarsius fuscus Fischer 1804, for the population of tarsiers from the southwestern peninsula near the city of Makassar. We note that neither Cephalopachus nor Carlito has been the subject of anywhere near as much field research as has Tarsius; thus we question if the currently accepted α taxonomy for these genera is based on knowledge or ignorance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Callou, C., Cuisin, J., & Groves, C. (2010). The rediscovery of Buffon’s tarsier. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-010-9455-x.

  • De Boer, L. E. M., & de Boer-van der Vlist, J. (1973). The somatic chromosomes and the idiogram of Tarsius syrichta carbonarius 1898 (Primates, Tarsioidea). Genen Phaenen, 16, 65–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erxleben, J. C. P. (1777). Systema Regni Animalis per Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, Varietates, cum Synonymia et Historia Animalium. Classis I. Mammalia. Leipzig: Weygand.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorog, A. J., & Sinaga, M. H. (2008). A tarsier capture in upper montane forest on Borneo. In M. Shekelle, C. Groves, I. Maryanto, H. Schulze, & H. Fitch-Snyder (Eds.), Primates of the Oriental night (pp. 29–33). Bogor: LIPI Press (Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J. E. (1821). On the natural arrangement of vertebrose animals. London Medical Repository, 15, 296–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groves, C. P. (1998). Systematics of tarsiers and lorises. Primates, 39, 13–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groves, C., Shekelle, M., & Brandon-Jones, D. (2008). Taxonomic history of the tarsiers, evidence for the origins of Buffon’s tarsier, and the fate of Tarsius spectrum Pallas, 1778. In M. Shekelle, C. Groves, I. Maryanto, H. Schulze, & H. Fitch-Snyder (Eds.), Primates of the Oriental night (pp. 1–12). Bogor: LIPI Press (Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, R. (2001). Cenozoic reconstructions of SE Asia and the SW Pacific: Changing patterns of land and sea. In I. Metcalf, J. Smith, M. Morwood, & I. Davidson (Eds.), Faunal and floral migrations and evolution in SE Asia-Australia (pp. 35–56). Lisse: Swets and Zeitlinger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, W. C. O. (1953). Notes on the taxonomy of the genus Tarsius. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 123, 13–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, W. C. O. (1955). Primates: Comparative anatomy and taxonomy. II. Haplorhini: Tarsioidea. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horsfield, T. (1824). Zoological Researches in Java, and the Neighbouring Islands. London: Kingsbury, Parbury & Allen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klinger, H. P. (1963). The somatic chromosomes of some primates: Tupaia glis, Nycticenus coucang, Tarsius bancanus, Cercocebus aterrimus, Symphalngus syndactylus. Cytogenetics, 2, 140–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lesson, R. -P. (1840). Species des Mammifères bimanes et quadrumanes. Paris.

  • Matsui, A., Rakotondraparany, F., Munechika, I., Hasegawa, M., & Horai, S. (2009). Molecular phylogeny and evolution of prosimians based on complete sequences of mitochondrial DNAs. Gene, 441, 53–66.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meireles, C. M., Czelusniak, J., Page, S. L., Wildman, D. E., & Goodman, M. (2003). Phylogenetic position of tarsiers within the order Primates: Evidence from γ-globin DNA sequences. In P. C. Wright, E. L. Simons, & S. Gursky (Eds.), Tarsiers: Past, present, and future (pp. 145–160). New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musser, G. G., & Dagosto, M. (1987). The identity of Tarsius pumilus, a pygmy species endemic to the montane mossy forests of Central Sulawesi. American Museum Novitates, 2867, 1–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niemitz, C. (2010). Progreditur ordinaria saltando & retrorsum ... (Normally proceeds in a leaping fashion, and backwards ...). International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-010-9454-y.

  • Niemitz, C., Nietsch, A., Warter, S., & Rumpler, Y. (1991). Tarsius dianae: A new primate species from Central Sulawesi (Indonesia). Folia Primatologica, 56, 105–116.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nietsch, A., & Burton, J. (2010). Geographical variation in duet songs of Sulawesi tarsiers: Evidence for new cryptic species in south and southeast Sulawesi. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-010-9449-8.

  • Pallas, P. S. (1778). Novae Species Quadrupedum e Glirium Ordine cum Illustrationibus Variis Complurium ex Hoc Ordine Animalium. Erlangen: Wolfang Walther.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, T. S. (1904). Index generum mammalium: A list of the genera and families of mammals. Washington.

  • Shekelle, M. (2003). Taxonomy and biogeography of Eastern Tarsiers. Doctoral thesis. Washington University, St. Louis.

  • Shekelle, M. (2008a). Distribution and biogeography of tarsiers. In M. Shekelle, C. Groves, I. Maryanto, H. Schulze, & H. Fitch-Snyder (Eds.), Primates of the Oriental night (pp. 13–28). Bogor: LIPI Press (Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shekelle, M. (2008b). The history and mystery of the mountain tarsier, Tarsius pumilus. Primate Conservation, 23, 121–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shekelle, M. (2008c). Distribution of tarsier acoustic forms, North and Central Sulawesi: With notes on the primary taxonomy of Sulawesi’s tarsiers. In M. Shekelle, C. Groves, I. Maryanto, H. Schulze, & H. Fitch-Snyder (Eds.), Primates of the Oriental night (pp. 35–50). Bogor: LIPI Press (Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shekelle, M., Morales, J. C., Niemitz, C., Ichwan, L. S. I., & Melnick, D. M. (2008a). The distribution of tarsier mtDNA haplotypes for parts of north and central Sulawesi: A preliminary analysis. In M. Shekelle, C. Groves, I. Maryanto, H. Schulze, & H. Fitch-Snyder (Eds.), Primates of the Oriental night (pp. 51–70). Bogor: LIPI Press (Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shekelle, M., Groves, C., Merker, S., & Supriatna, J. (2008b). Tarsius tumpara: A new tarsier species from Siau Island, North Sulawesi. Primate Conservation, 23, 55–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shekelle, M., Meier, R., Wahyu, I., & Wirdateti, Ting, N. (2010). Molecular phylogenetics and chronometrics of Tarsiidae based on 12 s mtDNA haplotypes: Evidence for Miocene origins of crown tarsiers and numerous species within the Sulawesian clade. International Journal of Primatology.

  • Storr, G. L. C. (1780). Prodromus methodi mammalium. Tubingen.

  • Swainson, W. (1835). On the natural history and classification of quadrupeds. London.

Download references

Acknowledgments

This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant no. INT 0107277 to M. Shekelle, and grants from the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, the Gibbon Foundation, and Primate Conservation, Inc. to M. Shekelle. Sponsorship for M. Shekelle in Indonesia was provided by Noviar Andayani of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Studies, University of Indonesia, and by the Indonesian Institute for Science. The Indonesian Department of Forestry provided permits for conducting research in conservation areas and for trapping tarsiers. Dr. Siti Nuramaliati Prijono provided facilities for keeping live tarsiers. Joseph Voyles, Emeritus Professor of Germanics and Linguistics, provided assistance with the referential meaning of the name Karl. We thank 2 anonymous reviewers for several excellent suggestions, including the map and table.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Colin Groves.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Groves, C., Shekelle, M. The Genera and Species of Tarsiidae. Int J Primatol 31, 1071–1082 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-010-9443-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-010-9443-1

Keywords

Navigation