tarsier

American  

[tahr-see-er, -see-ey] / ˈtɑr si ər, -siˌeɪ /

noun

1. any member of the three genera (Carlito , Cephalopachus ,Tarsius ) of the family Tarsiidae, inhabiting Indonesia, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian islands, characterized as a small, arboreal, nocturnal primate with velvety fur, very large eyes, a long tail, and very long hind limbs: all populations are dwindling and considered vulnerable to extinction.

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tarsier British  

/ ˈtɑːsɪə /

noun

1. any of several nocturnal arboreal prosimian primates of the genus Tarsius, of Indonesia and the Philippines, having huge eyes, long hind legs, and digits ending in pads to facilitate climbing: family Tarsiidae

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Etymology

Origin of tarsier

First recorded in 1770–75; from French, equivalent to tarse “ankle bones, tarsus” + -ier; so named for its extremely long tarsi by Georges Buffon; tarsus, -ier ²