Progreditur ordinara saltando et retrorsum...Normally Proceeds in a Leaping Fashion, and Backwards...

Abstract

This introductory article sketches the history of tarsier research beginning with the first description of a tarsier in 1706, and continuing with early anatomical and embryological investigations in the middle and by the end of the 19th century. The first half of the 20th century produced a considerable number of more or less episodic studies often focusing on behavioral biology of (short-term) captive observations. A systematic collection of tarsiers in the 1940 s by Wharton, transported to the United States, and several tarsiers brought to Germany by Harrisson led to the first long-term field study in Borneo. This study investigated the functional anatomy of the skin, biometry and corresponding evolutionary interpretations, anatomy, and locomotion in Bornean tarsiers as well as many aspects of their behavior. It also recorded diseases and traumatological data and interpreted these with regard to fitness and the survival of the species. I close this abbreviated history of tarsier research before the last 20 yr with 2 studies, 1 on the physiology and evolution of brown adipose tissue and 1 on convergent evolution with owls.

Niche convergence suggests functionality of the nocturnal fovea

“…However, observations of the Sunda scops owl ( Otus lempiji ), a tarsier-sized faunivore (90–140 g ), suggest a comparable niche ( König and Weick, 2008 ; Figure 2 ). Potential niche convergence has attracted attention due to the many homoplasies that unite tarsiers and scops owls, such as (i) hyperenlarged eyes that protrude from the orbit ( Figures 3A,B ); (ii) orbit-induced displacement of the olfactory tract, which itself is unusually long; (iii) a loss of ocular mobility that corresponds with increased cervical mobility ( Figures 3C,D ); (iv) acute directional hearing; (v) enlarged semicircular canals; and, (vi) derived feeding morphologies for perforating prey ( Niemitz, 1985 , 2010 ; Menegaz and Kirk, 2009 ). Niemitz (1985) interpreted this suite of character traits as an adaptation to sit-and-wait ambush predation at low light levels.…”

The Genera and Species of Tarsiidae

“…Following Hill came the work of Niemitz (reviewed by Niemitz 2010) and that of Musser and Dagosto (1987). Although the purpose of the latter revision was to define and delimit the previously misunderstood Tarsius pumilus, they also provided a detailed survey and comparison of extant tarsiers.…”