False tarsier (SciiFii)

The false tarsier (Microlemur tarsoides), also known as the pygmy galago, is a species of galago that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, forests, wetlands, and open woodlands across Central Africa and East Africa to help boost biodiversity. The false tarsier measures only about 85 to 160 mm (3.35 to 6.30 in) in height, making it one of the smallest primates. The small size makes it difficult to spot. The false tarsiers are similar to true tarsiers in ecology and behavior, being primarily insectivorous, its diet consists of insects, spiders, small crustaceans, and small vertebrates such as small lizards and birds. The false tarsier is a shy, nocturnal animal that leads a mostly hidden life. During the day, it sleeps in dark hollows close to the ground, near tree trunks and shrubs deep in the impenetrable bushes and forests. It becomes active only at night; with its keen sight and ability to manoeuvre around trees, it is able to avoid humans. It is arboreal, habitually clinging vertically to trees and capable of leaping from branch to branch. The false tarsier is solitary. However, populations and individuals have been found to have either monogamous or polygamous mating patterns. Three different audible calls have been documented. One is its "loud call"—a piercing single note. The second sound is a soft, sweet, bird-like twill, a sound of contentment. When several false tarsiers come together, the combined effect of this chirping is a locust-like sound. These mammals can also vocalize in an ultrasound frequency range of 70 kHz and can pick up frequencies above 90 kHz. This form of vocal communication is used as a distress call made by infants when they are separated from their mothers. It is also the call made by males to their mates during mating season. False tarsiers also communicate through a scent from the circumoral gland located around the mouth, which the female uses to mark her mate. The males mark their territory with their urine. False tarsiers perform tactile communication through social grooming, removing dead skin and parasites, a behaviour observed in females on adult males, as well as in females on their offspring. The false tarsier's gestation period lasts about six months, while the female's estrous cycle lasts 25–28 days. The mating season lasts from May to June. The female gives birth to one offspring per gestation. The infant is born with hair and with its eyes open. The females carry their infants in their mouths. A newborn can already cling to branches and in less than a month after birth, it can start leaping. The conservation status of the false tarsier is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the false tarsier's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.