Jatna's tarsier
The Jatna’s tarsier, also known locally as Mimito, is a species of tarsier endemic to the northern Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Indonesia. Previously classified together with the Spectral tarsier, this species was reclassified and elevated as a separate species in 2017 due to their distinct and separate acoustic duet calls between males and females.
Taxonomy and etymology
Taxonomic history, discovery, and classification
Following the taxonomic revision of the Tarsiidae primate family in 2010 by the primatologists Colin Groves and Myron Shekelle, all tarsiers found in northern Sulawesi were initially classified under the taxon Spectral tarsier. However, subsequent studies conducted in 2017 by a team of researchers led by Myron Shekelle in the Nantu Wildlife Reserve in Gorontalo, Sulawesi later described a local population of spectral tarsiers found in the area with a distinct acoustic duet call between males and females. This population was then later reclassified and elevated as a separate species under the genus Tarsius.Etymology
The species was named Jatna's tarsier in honour of Dr. Jatna Supriatna, an Indonesian conservationist who has dedicated much of his professional life contributing to biodiversity and environmental conservation works in Indonesia, particularly on tarsiers.Ecology
Morphology
Aside from the common basal characteristics shared amongst all tarsier species, Jatna's tarsiers possess a very similar morphology to Gursky's spectral tarsiers, except with a generally larger bare spot at the base of its ear, a less shortened hind foot, a substantially longer tail, and longer middle finger.While surveys of wild populations of Jatna's tarsier indicate that body weight and tail lengths are generally within the range of other tarsier species, body weight dimorphism between males and females may be greater than that of other tarsier species. Males weigh around 135g while females weight around 104-114g, while male tail lengths measure around 246mm and female tail lengths measure around 232-243mm.
Distribution, range, and habitat
The species is endemic to the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, specifically in the northern parts of the island stretching westwards from the isthmus of Gorontalo to Sejoli and possibly Ogatemuku. It borders with the Wallace's tarsier to the west, and the Gursky's spectral tarsier to the east.In the wild, it inhabits tropical rainforests, preferring to nest in dense clusters of vegetation, such as on palm and bamboo trees from the Arecaceae and Poaceae plant families respectively. Common species of nesting trees include the Bambusa vulgaris, Schizostachyum lima, Calamus zollingeri, and Salacca Zalacca, while they have also been observed to nest on larger trees like Ficus virens.