Tarsius wallacei: A New Tarsier Species from Central Sulawesi Occupies a Discontinuous Range
Author: Stefan Merker, Christine Drille, Hadi Dahruddin, Wirdateti, Walberto Sinaga, Dyah Perwitasari-Farajallah, Myron ShekelleAbstract
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 coppercolored throat. Genetic analyses prove Y-chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA
sequences and also microsatellite allele frequencies to be absolutely diagnostic.
