High in the mountaintop forests of Indonesia, this little Furby-gremlin hybrid hid undiscovered (and unmolested) for the last ninety years. Last seen alive in the 1920s, the pygmy tarsier was thought extinct until researchers from Texas A&M University rediscovered the little guy last month.
Pygmy tarsier is not amused.
Over a 2.5 month period, the scientists trapped two males and one female in Lore-Lindu National Park. After taking measurements and affixing radio collars, the researchers were unable to resist the urge to love them, and hug them, and squeeze them and call them George.
These primitive primates weigh only 2 ounces and live in the treetops where they hunt insects (you would too if you were 2 ounces) at night. Unlike most primates, the pygmy tarsier has claws instead of nails.
Handy dandy pygmy tarsier info sheet, in case you run across one on your way to work! Click to enlarge.
Tarsius pumilus takes careful mental note to bite all these a$$holes when they let him go.
Thanks to Liz Carter, Taylor Schreiber and Kangatron for the tips.
Life Science
Comments
The little gremlin bit one of the guys, too - LOL. Damn right he's not amused!
Posted by: Christie | November 19, 2008 1:18 PM
I think his name is Henry!
Posted by: Hilary Minor | November 19, 2008 5:30 PM
Furby? Nonsense! This is a young relative of Jabba the Hut.
Posted by: Ian | November 20, 2008 7:43 AM
It's Little Fuzzy! Ghost of H. Beam Piper, please call your office.
Posted by: Mad Hussein LOLScientist, FCD | November 20, 2008 12:29 PM
Pretty cool :)
Posted by: Alan | November 20, 2008 12:37 PM
The creepiest thing in this picture is that guy's hand... Bring on the nightmares!
Posted by: Ray | November 20, 2008 1:25 PM
selam tskler
Posted by: sesli chat | November 25, 2008 4:00 PM
those guy are our ancestors and deserve respect. I would like 2 own one but they need to stay in their own habitat... i would never tear down trees with little cute furry things in them.. ashamed becuz my friend kemal from indo probably evolved from those dudes LOL
Posted by: georg | March 19, 2009 1:05 AM