Tarsius Bancanus

Tarsius Bancanus

Tarsius bancanus, known as Mentilin or in English known as Horsfield’s Tarsier or Western Tarsier, is an endemic animal spread throughout Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Bangka and Belitung. These primate animals are designated as the fauna of identity in the province of Bangka Belitung based on the ministerial decree in the State Number: 522.53-958 / 2010. Based on phylogenetics, Tarsiers are classified as primate animals that belong to the genus Tarsius, a monotype genus from the Tarsiidae family, the only surviving family of infraordo Tarsiiformes. In the past this order had a wide spread. But all species that survive are now found in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia. There are four subspecies of Tarsius bancanus, namely: Tarsius bancanus bancanus, Tarsius bancanus borneanus, Tarsius bancanus natunensis, and Tarsius bancanus saltator.

Morphology and Behavior

Tarsius bancanus has characteristics and behavior like other types of tarsiers. This primate body is relatively small with a body length ranging from 12-15 cm and has a body weight for males around 128 grams while females are around 117 grams. Tarsius bancanus’s body hair is soft reddish brown, brownish gray to yellowish orange. This tarsier has a tail that can exceed its body length which is around 18-22 cm.

Tarsius bancanus has huge eyes that are almost the size of his entire brain where each eyeball is about 16 mm in diameter. His hind legs are very long, which is almost twice the length of his body. The fingers and toes are elongated, with the third finger approximately the same length as the upper arm. In many fingers there are nails, but on the second and third fingers of the hind legs are the claws they usually use to treat the body.

All types of tarsiers are nocturnal meaning that the animal sleeps during the day and is active at night, it is usually located on branches and branches of trees with a height of 5 meters, but like other nocturnal organisms some individuals may be more or less active during the day. Unlike most other nocturnal animals, Tarsius does not have a reflecting area (tapetum lucidum) in its eyes. They also have a fovea, which is unusual in nocturnal animals. The tarsier brain differs from other primates in terms of the connection of the two eyes and the lateral geniculate nucleus, which is the main area in the thalamus that receives visual information. A series of cellular layers that receive information from the ipsilateral (same side of the head) and contralateral (different sides of the head) in the lateral geniculate nucleus distinguish tarsiers from lemurs, slow lorises, and monkeys, all of which are the same in this regard.

Tarsier is an insectivorous means that he is a carnivore, and catches insects by jumping. They are also known to prey on small vertebrates such as birds, snakes, lizards and bats. When jumping from one tree to another, tarsiers can even catch moving birds. This mammalian pregnancy lasts for six months, then tarsier gives birth to a child. Young tarsiers are born hairy and with open eyes and are able to climb within a day after birth. They reach adulthood after one year. Adult tarsiers live in pairs with a residence of around one hectare.

Conservation Distribution and Status

Tarsius bancanus saltator is in Belitung, Tarsius bancanus natunensis is located on Natuna island and Subi island, Tarsius bancanus borneanus is found in Kalimantan and Karimata, Brunei, and Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak). Tarsius bancanus bancanus is found in parts of Sumatra and the island of Bangka.

In general, Tarsius bancanus is categorized as a vulnerable conservation status by the IUCN Redlist. However, if based on each subspecies, Tarsius bancanus natunensis is categorized as Critically Endangered, Tarsius bancanus bancanus and Tarsius bancanus saltator are categorized as Endangered. While Tarsius bancanus borneanus is categorized as Vulnerable. By CITES, Tarsier is included in the list of Appendices II. Whereas by the Indonesian government, Tarsius bancanus and all types of tarsiers are protected under PP. No. 7 of 1999. Even though it was less popular than tertiary Tarsiers in Sulawesi, Tarsius bancanus became one of Indonesia’s earth’s wealth. Moreover, these primates are designated as the mascot of Bangka Belitung. So let us now preserve and maintain one of these native Indonesian Fauna, and let us protect the forest where they live from irresponsible hands.

Editor : Uus Saepuloh
Photo : Natural History Photography

Reference Library

http://www.theprimata.com/tarsius_bancanus.html

http://alangaesia.blogspot.co.id/2012/12/mentilin-tarsius-bancanus-fauna.html

http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/image/130503312