Dissertation Research: Infant Parking Behavior in Spectral Tarsiers, Tarsius Spectrum, Sulawesi, Indonesia

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This is a proposal to study infant care behavior in the spectral tarsier, Tarsier spectrum. Spectral tarsiers are small, nocturnal, insectivorous primates found only on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Spectral tarsiers exhibit a very unusual parental care strategy whereby the mother transports her infant in her mouth ant then `parks` it on branches throughout the forest. It has been suggested that the exceptionally large size of the infant relative to the mother prevents her from transporting it on her chest or back as observed in most other primates. The goal of the study is to ascertain how long the infant is left alone, if other group members babysit parked infants, the distance between the parked infants, mothers and other group members. In addition, other aspects of infant development, including a very lengthy gestation period, will be monitored. Continuous observations of mothers will be accomplished through the assistance of radio telemetry equipment.