Tarsiers use a combination of vocalizations and scent marking to mark and defend their territory. These territorial behaviors are important for establishing boundaries and reducing conflicts with other tarsiers. Here are some ways in which tarsiers mark their territory:
1. **Vocalizations:** Tarsiers are known to use vocalizations to establish their presence and signal territorial boundaries. They produce a variety of sounds, including high-pitched calls, chirps, and clicks, that serve as vocal markers. These calls can convey information about the location and size of their territory and may deter other tarsiers from encroaching.
2. **Ultrasonic Vocalizations:** Tarsiers also use ultrasonic vocalizations that are beyond the range of human hearing. These high-pitched calls may serve as territorial signals, and their ability to produce and hear ultrasonic sounds allows for communication that may be difficult for other animals to detect.
3. **Scent Marking:** Tarsiers use scent marking as another means of marking their territory. They have scent glands located on their chest and around their genital area. By rubbing these scent glands on branches and leaves within their territory, they can leave olfactory markers that signal their presence to other tarsiers.
4. **Visual Displays:** Tarsiers may engage in visual displays to assert their territorial dominance. These displays can include postures, movements, and even territorial fights or disputes with other tarsiers.
These territorial behaviors are essential for maintaining the boundaries of their home range, reducing conflicts with neighboring tarsiers, and potentially attracting mates during the breeding season. Territory marking helps establish a structured social order within tarsier populations, allowing individuals to coexist and allocate resources more efficiently.