“Size doesn’t matter. Look at me. I’m judged by my size, right? Hmm? NO. And well, you mustn’t,” Yoda once said. He could definitely speak for the tarsiers, the small primates that live in Southeast Asia. Who is Yoda to tarsiers?
Well, two latest species of tarsiers have been discovered in Indonesia, scientists announced in a brand new study recently published. This little primate could have inspired the character Yoda from Star Wars.
Tarsiers, known for his or her huge eyes, can only be found on a couple of islands in Southeast Asia. The latest species lives on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, which is wealthy in animals that don’t live anywhere else on Earth.
With the invention of the brand new species (Tarsius specgurskyae and Tarsius supriatnai), the variety of recognized species from Sulawesi and nearby islands has increased to 11. “The discovery of those species is anticipated to assist protect the extremely necessary regions where they occur,” said the tarsier expert and chief study writer Myron Shekelle of Western Washington University.
According to check co-author Russ Mittermeier of Conservation International, Indonesia is the third richest country on Earth by way of primate diversity, behind only Brazil and Madagascar. He added that Indonesia now has two more species so as to add to its already impressive list of primates.
While the 2 species may look just like one another, as they do to other tarsiers, they were identified as separate species based on the sounds they make, in addition to other genetic data, Shekelle said.
One of the brand new species of tarsius (Tarsius specgurskyae) occurs in Indonesia. (Photo: Myron Shekelle)
“For me, the story is that scientists are racing against time to identify and preserve species-rich biodiversity on the world’s most geologically complex island, an island that is much larger and many times more species-rich compared to a much better-known island. Galapagos Islands,” Shekelle said.
Mittermeier said that “these two new tarsier species from Sulawesi are the 80th and 81st primates new to science described since the turn of the century. This represents approximately 16% of all primate species and shows how little we know about our planet’s unique and wonderful biodiversity.”
According to Endangered Species International, most tarsier species are currently threatened or endangered, and a few are considered critically endangered.
Some interesting facts about tarsiers: They have the biggest eyes (relative to body size) of all mammals; their eyes are in regards to the same size as their brain; a typical adult male weighs about 4 ounces, or in regards to the same as a stick of butter; and like owls, tarsiers can turn their heads greater than 180 degrees in any direction.
The study results were published within the peer-reviewed scientific journal Primate Conservation.
The announcement comes just in time for “May the Fourth Be With You” Day, a favourite day for Star Wars fans. A bunch of primatologists also designated May 4 as International Tarsier Day.
Separated at birth? Tarsiers could have been the inspiration for Yoda, a personality from Star Wars. (Photo: Myron Shekelle)
Source and reference:
- Shekelle, M., Groves, C. P., Maryanto, I., and Mittermeier, R. A. (2017). Two latest species of tarsiers (Tarsiidae, primates) and the biogeography of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Primate conservation.
- USA Today : Another real ‘Yoda’ discovered in Indonesia
- Mongabay.com: Two latest species of tarsiers, allegedly inspiring Yoda, announced on Star Wars Day
