Tarsier, << TAHR see uhr, >> is a type of small mammal with a round head and unusually large eyes. Tarsiers live in the tropical rain forests of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. They sleep in trees during the day and move about during the night. Like human beings and apes, tarsiers are primates.
Tarsiers have big ears and a long, thin tail with tufts of hair on the end. Their long hind legs make them strong jumpers, and they can leap as far as 20 feet (6 meters). They use pads on their long fingers and toes to cling to branches. Tarsiers can rotate their head like an owl and thus see in any direction, though they cannot move their eyes. Most tarsiers measure from 31/4 to 6 inches (8.5 to 16 centimeters) long. The tail usually is from 51/4 to 103/4 inches (13.5 to 27 centimeters) long. They weigh only about 4 ounces (113 grams). Tarsiers feed chiefly on birds, insects, and small lizards.
