 Multivariate analyses have shown the "T. lariang" is significantly distinct from other species of Sulawesi tarsiers.The isolation of the Sulawesi islands archipelago (before they became one big island), due to a period of plate tectonic activity about 20 mya resulted in speciation of the species of Sulawesi tarsiers.Lariang tarsiers most likely colonized Sulawesi region around the Miocene.