Tarsiers are a small family of rare and endangered primates found only in Southeast Asia. The three extant species are all arboreal, and their secretive, nocturnal habits make their biology largely unknown. Tarsiers are also of great interest because their relationships to other primates are unresolved. The Duke University Primate Center maintains colonies of two tarsier species. These are the first large tarsier colonies assembled in the U.S. for purposes of scholarly analysis. The Center has made important steps in determining optimal environmental conditions for the animals and currently has a healthy colony with several pregmant females. Recent major technological advances in neuroanatomy, DNA hybridization, DNA sequencing and biochemistry provide new approaches to help resolve the question of the relationships and biology of tarsiers. The Duke Primate Center is at the leading edge of research in primatology and has assembled a broad spectrum of scientific talent to study questions of tarsier behavior, anatomy, reproduction, biochemistry and physiology. All activities are accomplished through benign, non-invasive study of the living subjects, or of those that were miscarried,stillborn, or have died of natural causes. This project provides funds for partial support of the colony for two years.
