Overview of the Tapir

The tapir is a large mammal, similar in shape to a pig. However, unlike a pig, tapirs have a short, prehensile snout. There are four different species of tapirs:. They are the Baird's Tapir, Brazilian Tapir, the Malayan Tapir, and the Mountain Tapir. Unfortunately, all of these species are either endangered or vulnerable. Tapirs inhabit the jungle and forest regions of South America, Central America, and Southeast Asia.

The proboscis of the tapir is a highly flexible structure, able to move in all directions. Surprisingly, the closest relatives of the tapirs are not pigs or elephants, but horses and rhinoceroses. The length of the proboscis varies between tapir species: Malayan Tapirs have the longest snouts while Brazilian Tapirs have the shortest. Most tapirs are about 7 feet in length and stand 3 feet high at the shoulder. They weigh between 330 to 700 pounds. They live for 25 to 30 years, both in the wild, and in zoos.

Although they live in dryland forests, tapirs near water spend a good time in or under the water. They often feed on vegetation, take refuge from predators and cool off in rivers. Tapirs consume mainly fruit, berries and leaves. The Baird’s Tapirs has been recorded as eating roughly 85 pounds of vegetation in a single day.

About the Author
Jacob Maddox manages content for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com an educational wildlife and animal website. Jacob also guest writes for Dog Pound http://www.dog-pound.net