Tapir

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#10   27. Malayan Tapir,More info:edgeofexistence

The Asian, or Malayan tapir is the largest of the five living species of tapir.

It is also the only surviving old world species. It is characterised by its long, fleshy, prehensile nose and distinctive black and white colouration which apparently breaks up the outline of the body in the gloom of the forests in which it lives. Tapirs are perissodactyls (odd-toed ungulates), a group of herbivores that also includes rhinos and horses – it was a previously a very diverse and numerous group. The origins of Tapiridae can be traced back at least fifty million years, and they have changed little in body plan for 35 million years. Formerly ranging across Southeast Asia, the tapir today exists as a series of isolated populations, the largest of which are in Malaysia. Habitat destruction, especially through deforestation for agricultural purposes, or flooding caused by the damming of rivers for hydroelectric purposes, is largely responsible for historical decline of this species and continues to be the main threat today. Hunting, a relatively minor threat in the past, is also becoming more of a concern; as other preferred prey species are becoming more depleted, hunters are increasingly looking towards tapirs as a food source.

#9     Tapir like to be near the water of the Amazon rainforest and river basin,More info:folly-farm

That’s a huge area stretching from Venezuela in the north all the way down to Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay in the south. They move quickly on land, even over rugged, mountainous terrain and are equally at home in the water.

The Lowland tapir (sometimes called the Brazilian tapir or South American tapir), is one of four species in the tapir family, along with the mountain tapir, the Malayan tapir, and Baird’s Tapir.

The thing that stands out most about the tapir is his funny looking nose. It’s actually prehensile or capable of holding onto things, which means they can use it like a small version of an elephant’s trunk.

#8   BRAZILIAN TAPIR,More info:zoobarcelona

The South American tapir lives in rainforests and wet forests of an extensive part of South America. Solitary and mainly nocturnal, it is a skilled swimmer that spends a lot of time in the water. It is a browser that feeds on grass, aquatic plants, leaves, tender sprouts and fruit.

Unlike adults, who have a uniform brown colour, calves have white stripes and spots that help them camouflage among the vegetation.

#7     BRAZILIAN TAPIR,More info:zoobarcelona

 

#6     Tapir  Tapirus bairdii, T. terrestris, T. pinchaque, T. indicus, T. kabomani,More info:animals.sandiegozoo

Zoo visitors often ask, “What is it? A pig? An anteater?” No, it’s a tapir, a primitive animal that has remained largely unchanged for millions of years. The four types of tapir are most closely related to horses and rhinos, since they have an odd number of toes (four toes on each front foot, three on each back foot). Their eyes and ears are small, and the body is teardrop shaped: tapered in the front and wider at the rear, designed to walk through thick vegetation. Male tapirs are slightly smaller than females.

#5    Tapir  Tapirus bairdii, T. terrestris, T. pinchaque, T. indicus, T. kabomani,More info:animals.sandiegozoo

 

#4     Tapir (Brazilian) / Tapirus terrestris,More info:dudleyzoo.org

At DZG we have Brazilian or South American Tapirs, one of four species found around the world; three in central and south America and one in Asia.

Tapirs are large browsing mammals, closely related to horses and rhinoceroses (odd toed ungulates – hoofed animals).

They are similar in shape to a pig, with a short, prehensile snout which is adapted for grasping. It is also used to sniff their way through the forest.

Brazilian tapirs are dark brown in colour and this provides excellent camouflage in the forest shadows.

All tapirs have oval, white-tipped ears, rounded, protruding rumps with stubby tails, and splayed, hoofed toes, with four toes on the front feet and three on the hind feet, which help them to walk on muddy and soft ground.

A stiff, bristly mane provides protection against the bite of the jaguar, the tapir’s main predator.

They are herbivores, using their mobile snouts to feed on leaves, buds, shoots, and small branches that they tear from trees, fruit, grasses, and aquatic plants.

Tapirs are solitary animals with the males and females only interacting during the breeding season.

After 395 day gestation period the female gives birth to a single baby.

Young tapirs have reddish, brown coats dappled with spots and stripes, however, the pattern is lost by the time the calf is six months old.

#3     Gallery description : tapir pictures,More info:animalpicturesociety

Tapir (tapirus) usually grows 100-150cm (39-59in). The average weight is 150-300kg (330-700lbs). The maximum speed it can reach is 48km/h (30mph). These mammals usually live 20-25 years. Tapir is a mammal that usually lives in lowland, moist forests. It has a hair skin type. The diet is herbivore.

#2     A rare encounter: Seeing a Tapir in the Amazon rain forest of Ecuador,More info:annees-de-pelerinage

Rare is the moment to overwhelm an experienced traveller. A host of memories from years of travelling form a backdrop that prevents me from being truly impressed by any situation. It often feels like I’ve seen it all or knew it was coming. Still I will never forget when a wild South American tapir suddenly came out of the underbrush of the Amazon rain forest to silently drink water from a clay lick.

#1     MOUNTAIN TAPIR,More info:tapirs

Characteristics

Though it is the smallest (and furriest!) of tapir species, the Mountain tapir is the largest mammal in the tropical Andes mountain range. Their long hair is brownish to black, and their lips are lined in a white color. Adults have two characteristic hair-free patches on their rump.

Mountain tapirs are 1.8 meters long, 0.8 meters high, and weigh between 150 and 250 Kilos. As with all tapir species, their young have a “watermelon” patterned camouflage coat.

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