New tiny tarsier species on Dinagat Island discovered

MANILA, Philippines - A team of scientists led by University of Kansas biodiversity curator Rafe Brown confirmed the existence of a new species of tarsier possibly endemic to Dinagat Island and the Caraga region.

Brown, who has been studying Philippine biodiversity in past years, said that before the tiny Dinagat-Caraga tarsier was only suspected to exist after it was recognized to be possible distinct by Filipiino biological Dioscoro Rabor in the 1970s.

"The confirmation of Rabor’s early suspicions about the Dinagat Island tarsier population was extremely exciting, and it was very satisfying to affirm his very perceptive early observations," Brown said in a university-released statement Wednesday.

Brown explained that his team confirmed the new species through genetic analysis showing that the new tarsier is a "real conservation priority."

"Previously tarsiers were one species, divided into three named subspecies," Brown said.

"Our data disagree with that subspecies arrangement and instead demonstrate that the Philippine tarsiers are divided into three genetic units — but these units are from different localities than the named taxa," he added.

Brown said that urgent efforts to preserve the group include the establishment of a protected area such as the declaration of a natural park.

"Currently, the newly discovered entity, the Dinagat-Caraga tarsier, has no protection. It is known from a small island that is being extremely heavily mined. Thus, it emerges as a new lineage — and a new major conservation urgency," the biologist said.

Other tarsier species have long fascinated Brown, calling them "cool" and "extremely cute" but are threatened with habitat loss due to development mining and deforestation from the timber industry.

"On Bohol, where they are a big part of the tourist economy, literally thousands of animals are taken out of the wild, essentially harassed by tourists, and die in captivity due to the stress and inability of their captors to feed them an appropriate diet of live small animals. Tarsiers must eat an enormous amount every night to fuel their high metabolism," he said.