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Tarsius wallacei: A New Tarsier Species from Central Sulawesi Occupies a Discontinuous Range

International Journal of Primatology volume 31, pages 1107–1122 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

On the basis of distinguishing characteristics of various genetic markers, pelage color, tail tuft, and vocalizations, we describe a new species of the genus Tarsius Storr 1780. The new taxon Tarsius wallacei sp. nov. occupies a disjunct range in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The two isolated populations differ significantly in body size, but are alike in color, tail tuft dimensions, vocalizations, and genetic composition. Morphologically, the new species is similar to other Sulawesi lowland tarsiers. In the field, it can be distinguished from its congeners via a characteristic duet song and its yellow-brown pelage coloration and a copper-colored throat. Genetic analyses prove Y-chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA sequences and also microsatellite allele frequencies to be absolutely diagnostic.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Indonesian authorities LIPI, RISTEK, PHKA, and BKSDA as well as local administrations of several villages for granting research, capture, and export permits. We thank Dr. Joko Pamungkas, Director of the Primate Research Center at Bogor Agricultural University, and Wahyu Sudrajat for their administrative support. We also thank our long-term field assistants Amar, Baso, Leo, Raimon, Sapri, and Thony for their indispensable help in the field, and also Novik Nurhidayat, Yogy Simanjuntak, and Novita Anggraeni for assisting us in the laboratory. All work complied with international and Indonesian law and regulations. This study was part of a collaborative project among the University of Mainz, the Primate Research Center at IPB Bogor, and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, LIPI. The work was supported through research grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, Me2730/1-2, Me2730/1-3, to S. Merker).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Evolution, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe University Frankfurt, 60054, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Stefan Merker

  2. Institute of Anthropology, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, 55099, Mainz, Germany

    Stefan Merker & Christine Driller

  3. Division of Zoology, Research Center for Biology-LIPI, Cibinong, Indonesia

    Hadi Dahruddin &  Wirdateti

  4. Primate Research Center, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia

    Walberto Sinaga & Dyah Perwitasari-Farajallah

  5. Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics & Natural Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia

    Dyah Perwitasari-Farajallah

  6. tarsier.org, Burlington, WA, 98233, USA

    Myron Shekelle

Authors
  1. Stefan Merker
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  2. Christine Driller
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  3. Hadi Dahruddin
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  4. Wirdateti
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  5. Walberto Sinaga
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  6. Dyah Perwitasari-Farajallah
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  7. Myron Shekelle
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Correspondence to Stefan Merker.

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Merker, S., Driller, C., Dahruddin, H. et al. Tarsius wallacei: A New Tarsier Species from Central Sulawesi Occupies a Discontinuous Range. Int J Primatol 31, 1107–1122 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-010-9452-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-010-9452-0

Keywords

  • Cytochrome b
  • Duet song
  • Microsatellites
  • Primate
  • SRY
  • Tinombo form