tarsier

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noun tar·si·er \ ˈtär-sē-ər , -sē-ˌā \

Definition of tarsier

:any of a genus (Tarsius of the family Tarsiidae) of small chiefly nocturnal and arboreal carnivorous primates of the Malay Archipelago that have large round eyes, long legs, and a long nearly hairless tail

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Recent Examples of tarsier from the Web

A trek through the sanctuary will reward travelers with a glimpse of these quirky animals without disturbing them, thanks to expert tarsier spotters who know their habits.

— kate springer, CNN, "Meet the Philippine tarsier: The second-smallest primate on the planet," 24 May 2017
But the most impressive aspect of tarsiers are their giant, saucer-like eyes.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Two New Species of Googly-Eyed Tarsiers Discovered in Indonesia," 8 May 2017
Because its peepers are too big to rotate in their sockets, the tarsier rotates its entire head, similar to the owl—the only primate that can turn its head 360 degrees.

— myron shekelle, National Geographic, "Tiny New 'Forest Goblins' Discovered, Look Like Yoda," 4 May 2017
Overall, the majority of tarsier species are now endangered or threatened, and some are designated critically endangered, according to Endangered Species International.

— doyle rice, USA TODAY, "Another real-life 'Yoda' discovered in Indonesia," 4 May 2017
Hence anthropoid primates probably evolved from a tarsier-like ancestor over 40 million years ago.

— brian switek, WIRED, "Preening the History of Primates," 30 Jan. 2012

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tarsier.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.