"Living Tarsiers are small mysterious primates that are the last survivors of an ancient primate group. This stimulating and compendious work brings readers up-to-date on what we know about tarsiers and their ancestors. It is essential reading for all primatologists."-Alan Walker, Evan Pugh Professor of Anthropology and Biology, Pennsylvania State University

Tarsiiformes, or tarsiers for short, are a group of living species whose combination of derived and ancient characteristics make them pivotal to understanding the roots of primate evolution. These small-bodied, nocturnal, solitary creatures resemble lower primates in their behavior and morphology, while some genetic evidence aligns them more closely with higher primates, such as monkeys, apes, and humans. This unique combination of behavior and anatomy makes the tarsier an especially interesting and controversial animal for study among primate behaviorists, evolutionists, and taxonomists, who view the tarsiers as "living fossils" that link past and present, lower and higher primates in the long chain of evolutionary history.

Tarsiers: Past, Present, and Future presents alternative and contrasting perspectives on the most debated questions that have arisen in tarsier studies. Top researchers bring together perspectives from anatomical, behavioral, genetic, and conservation studies in this new and exciting addition to the understanding of primate evolution.

The volume provides a comprehensive overview of the past, present, and future of tarsiers. Beginning with an examination of the origins, phylogeny, anatomy, and genetics of tarsiers, the essays then move on to discuss current issues of taxonomy, behavioral ecology, and vocalizations. The final section focuses on future conservation efforts in the face of potential extinction.

Contributors to this volume draw on a range of scientific disciplines to provide a detailed examination of the past, present, and future of these intriguing primates.

Patricia C. Wright is a professor of anthropology at SUNY, Stony Brook and director of the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments, Stony Brook and Madagascar. Elwyn L. Simons is James B. Duke Professor of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy and the head of the Division of Fossil Primates of the Duke University Primate Center where, with Wright, he established one of the world's only viable captive tarsier colonies. A member of the National Academy of Science (U.S.A.), he is the author of Primate Evolution: An Introduction to Man's Place in Nature. Sharon Gursky is an assistant professor of anthropology at Texas A&M University.

Contributors

• Robert L. Anemone
• Friderun A. Ankel-Simons
• John Czelusniak
• Marian Dagosto
• Cynthia N. Dolino
• Helena M. Fitch-Snyder
• Daniel L. Gebo
• Morris Goodman
• Colin P. Groves
• Sharon Gursky
• David H. Haring
• Nina G. Jablonski
• Carla M. Meireles
• Brett A. Nachman
• Alexandra Nietsch
• Scott L. Page
• Sharon T. Pochron
• Jeffrey H. Schwartz
• Cornelia Simons
• Elwyn L. Simons
• Derek E. Wildman
• Patricia C. Wright
• Anne D. Yoder