---
title: "Philippine Tarsier (Carlito syrichta) | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "Hand-sized night primate with the largest eyes for its body of any mammal, a head that turns 180 degrees, and legs built for jumping."
image: "https://animaltracks.wiki/images/animals/philippine-tarsier-1.webp"
published: "2026-09-06"
updated: "2026-10-12"
---
# Philippine Tarsier (*Carlito syrichta*)
> **Status**: Checked against 4 sources, listed under Sources below.
> **Tagline**: Hand-sized night primate with the largest eyes for its body of any mammal, a head that turns 180 degrees, and legs built for jumping.
> **Soundtrack Vibe**: Darkwave & Ethereal Witch House // Pastel Ghost, "Dark Beach"
> **Soundtrack Links**: [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/track/7fqjWHXf330QwnfaAWB2Dr) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guDJvZp5Bqk)
> **Vibe Match**: In one study the Philippine tarsier heard up to about 91 kHz, and researchers recorded a call with a dominant frequency of 70 kHz, far above human hearing. "Dark Beach" buries its voice deep in haze and reverb.
## Biological Superpowers & Stats
- **Taxonomy**: *Carlito syrichta*
- **Danger Level**: Low
- **Conservation Status**: Near Threatened ([IUCN Red List](https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2020-3.rlts.t21492a17978520.en))
- **Superpower**: Eyes that are the largest of any mammal for its body size, a head that rotates 180 degrees, and hearing that reaches about 91 kHz, well into ultrasound.
- **Habitat**: Tropical rainforest with tall grasses, bamboo and small trees, mostly on Samar, Leyte, Bohol, and Mindanao in the Philippines
- **Diet**: Insects, spiders, lizards, and small vertebrates such as birds
- **Tags**: mammal, primate, nocturnal, carnivore, rainforest, ultrasonic
## Natural History & Behavior
Imagine a hunter about the size of a young child's hand, working the night shift, with the largest eyes for its body of any mammal. Meet the **Philippine tarsier** (*Carlito syrichta*).
## A head like a periscope
Its body is roughly 85 to 160 millimeters long, and it weighs between 80 and 165 grams. It has a tufted tail 25 centimeters long. Its eyes are huge, and its ears are big and bat-like. Sharp sight and hearing together make it a highly successful night hunter.
Then there is the neck. A tarsier's head can rotate 180 degrees.
> **Named for its feet** Tarsiers were named for two greatly elongated bones in their feet. These long bones give tarsiers added leverage for jumping.
## A leaper that hunts at night
The tarsier does not usually move on all four limbs. It has developed excellent leaping skills, and pads on its fingers and toes help it cling to branches. By day it hides in dense vegetation and sleeps in trees. At night it hunts insects, spiders, lizards and small vertebrates such as birds. When it seizes prey, it carries the meal in its mouth and uses both hands.
It lives in the rainforests of the Philippines and is most commonly found on Samar, Leyte, Bohol and Mindanao. Tarsiers appear to have home ranges of 1 to 2 hectares.
Babies start fast. A single young is born after about six months, well furred and with its eyes open. It can climb after two days and jump after four, and by about 45 days it can catch its own prey.
This tarsier may also have a hidden channel. In one study, the Philippine tarsier's hearing reached about 91 kHz, and researchers recorded a call at 70 kHz. Few mammals can send and receive calls in pure ultrasound, above 20 kHz, and these values are among the highest recorded for any land mammal. The researchers suggest ultrasonic calls might be a private channel that subverts detection by predators, prey and competitors.
## Captive records, wild threats
The lifespan figures come from captivity. AnAge gives a maximum of 16 years, based on a male that reportedly lived more than 10 years in captivity. Wild tarsiers likely do not live as long as captive ones.
Hunters and trappers have hurt the species by shaking tarsiers out of their trees or chopping down the branches they live in, and deforestation has hit the species significantly too. The IUCN Red List rates the Philippine tarsier Near Threatened.
## Frequently Asked Questions
### How big is a Philippine tarsier?
Tiny. Its body is roughly 85 to 160 millimeters long and it weighs 80 to 165 grams, and its tail adds about 25 centimeters. That is about the size of a young child's hand. *(Source: [Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan]())*
### What does a Philippine tarsier eat?
Animals. Its menu is insects, spiders, lizards, and small vertebrates such as birds. Once it grabs a meal, it carries the prey in its mouth, using both hands. *(Source: [Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan]())*
### How long do Philippine tarsiers live?
The record is about 16 years, for a male that reportedly lived over 10 years in captivity. ADW says it is likely that wild animals do not live as long as their captive counterparts. *(Source: [AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources]())*
### Can Philippine tarsiers hear ultrasound?
Yes. Researchers found that the Philippine tarsier's hearing reaches about 91 kHz, far above the 20 kHz where ultrasound begins. They also recorded one call at 70 kHz. Those values are among the highest known for any land mammal. *(Source: [Ramsier et al. 2012]())*
## Sources
1. [Tarsius syrichta (Philippine tarsier). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.]()
2. [AnAge entry for Carlito syrichta. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.]()
3. [Shekelle (2020). Carlito syrichta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T21492A17978520.]()
4. [Ramsier et al. (2012). Primate communication in the pure ultrasound. Biology Letters.]()
*Published September 6, 2026. Last updated October 12, 2026.*
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