Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Primates
- Family
- Tarsiidae
- Genus
- Tarsius
Habitat
Jatna's tarsier inhabits primary and secondary forests in central Sulawesi, Indonesia, preferring dense vegetation in lowland and montane areas up to 2,000 meters. They are arboreal, spending most of their time in trees and avoiding open areas. This species relies on forested environments for shelter and hunting.
Diet
Jatna's tarsier primarily feeds on insects such as crickets, beetles, and moths, which it catches using its agile leaps and sharp hearing. It is nocturnal, hunting at night by pouncing on prey from branches, and occasionally supplements its diet with small vertebrates like lizards or birds. Feeding behavior involves perching quietly to listen for sounds before striking.
Behavior
Jatna's tarsier is nocturnal and solitary, emerging at night to forage and mark territories with scent and vocal calls. It is highly territorial, defending small home ranges with ultrasonic calls that are inaudible to humans, and pairs may form temporarily during mating. This species is agile, using vertical clinging and leaping to navigate trees, and it rarely descends to the ground.
Conservation Status
Jatna's tarsier is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to habitat loss from deforestation and agriculture. Population trends are decreasing, with major threats including fragmentation of forest habitats and potential capture for the pet trade.