The alert and lively tarsier lives in the East Indies and the Philippines. It is small, ranging from ten to fifteen inches long, including its long, thin tail. Living in trees, it uses this tail as an extra support when clinging to a branch and also to help keep its balance when leaping from tree to tree. Its fur is brownish-gray except around its mouth, chin, nose and between the eyes, where it is usually yellow or light orange.
Seen face-on, it is an amusing and lovable little creature. Its eyes look like a big pair of goggles, and the spread of its mouth is a pleasant grin. A button nose sits above its small mouth and chin, and its rather large ears stand rigidly erect.
This long-legged little fellow belongs to the primate family and is about the size of a large squirrel. The second and third toes on each of its hind feet have sharp, long claws, and both front feet and hind feet are cushioned underneath with non-skid ridges. These help it to get a good grip on tree trunks and branches. Incidentally, its long, hind legs help make it a champion jumper among animals its size; it can leap as high as four feet and as far as six feet in distance.
One outstanding feature is the tarsier’s large, owl-like eyes, which are close together. The pupils are about three times as large as those of other animals its size and are surrounded by dark rings. These eyes are in many ways its most valuable possession, for it is a night worker. The Creator has wisely provided it with most remarkable vision to aid in its nighttime search for insects, snails and small lizards, which make up its diet.
In addition to good eyesight, the tarsier’s head can turn around so far that it can see behind itself without moving its body. The Creator also gave it very sensitive hearing. Its large ears can twist individually in various directions - one this way and the other that way - when trying to identify a sound. As for itself, it moves quietly through the darkness and, wherever possible, keeps well hidden among tree leaves.
The Bible tells us to be glad and rejoice in that which God has created. The more our attention is drawn to the wonders of His creation, including these little tarsiers, the more we are impressed with the truth of the opening Bible verse. It is good to think about this as we see the various forms of life all around us, for each one represents a part of God’s creation. How happy we can be to know Him, not only as our Creator, but more importantly, as our Saviour too.
ML-05/08/2005
MAY 8, 2005