Herbivore Tapir: description, where it lives, what it looks like, photo, video. Types of tapirs: flat, mountain, scoop

Tapirs (lat. Tapirus) - animals that belong to the order of artiodactyls. They are very much like a pig in appearance, only their muzzle ends with a short trunk, which is adapted for grasping.

Tapirs are herbivores. Tapirs have four toes on their front paws and three on their hind paws. On the fingers of animals there are small hooves, they help them to move easily on soft and dirty ground. Their nearest modern relatives rhinos and horses are considered.

Today there are four types of tapirs, which are somewhat different in appearance from each other: black-backed tapir, mountain, Central American and lowland tapir. However, they all, regardless of what species they are assigned to, have a weight of 150-300 kg, the height at the withers of these animals reaches one meter, and the body length is about two meters.

At will tapirs live for about 30 years. Pregnancy in tapirs lasts 13 months and, as a result, the female gives birth to one cub. cubs different types these animals are born very similar friend on the other, as they have a protective color of stripes and spots.

Tapirs are one of the most ancient mammals. Previously, these animals were widespread in many places on our planet. Today the situation is somewhat different and now three species of tapir live in Central America and some warm places South America, and another species lives in Southeast Asia.

Tapirs are forest animals that love water very much. These mammals are peaceful creatures that live on land, but at the same time, they choose a place for their housing, next to which there will be a lake and a river. Tapirs not only love to rest in the water, but also eat soft algae. In case of danger, tapirs hide from their enemy under water.

These mammals living in forests eat berries and fruits, as well as the leaves of some plants. Tapirs living in Brazil very often first sink to the bottom, and then move along the riverbed and look for food at this time.

Three types of tapirs live on the flat terrain. These animals prefer to be crepuscular or nocturnal. One species of tapir lives in the Andes. These mammals are somewhat smaller than other species and are mostly diurnal.

Tapirs (Tapirus) are large, stocky herbivores with muscular bodies and short trunks. Today there are four species in the genus of tapirs. Three of them live in South America, and the fourth species inhabits Burma and Thailand. Tapirs are shy, solitary tropical forest animals that live in almost any wooded or grassy area with constant access to fresh water.

The size of all tapirs on average becomes 1.8-2.5 m, and the weight is 150-300 kg. Their body is cone-shaped, rounded at the rear and tapered at the front, well suited for moving quickly through dense undergrowth. In addition, tapirs have a very short tail.

Tapirs are exclusively herbivores. They eat the leaves, buds, shoots and fruits of many plants. These are solitary animals, with the exception of females and their offspring. Pregnancy lasts close to 13-14 months. Young tapirs are weaned after 10-12 months, and sexual maturity occurs at about 2-4 years. Tapirs live for about 30 years. Now all four species of tapirs are on the verge of extinction, and their populations continue to decline rapidly.

a photo

Black-backed, or Malayan tapir ( Tapirus indicus) is the largest of the genus. Their range is limited southern Vietnam, south of Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma), the Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra. The weight of this tapir is from 250 to 540 kg, with a length of 1.8 to 2.5 m and a height of 0.9 to 1.1 m. A distinctive feature of this species is a large spot on the back of a light gray color.

Although tapirs are generally considered solitary, nocturnal animals, black-backed tapirs are more tolerant of conspecifics and display a crepuscular rather than fully nocturnal lifestyle. They may form temporary groups during periods of food shortage. They feed on more than 122 plant species, the fruits, as a rule, make up most diet of this species. During the day, an adult eats 4-5% of its weight.

Plains, or South American tapir

a photo

The plains or South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris) lives mainly in Brazil, but its range covers most rainforest South America. It ranges from Northern Argentina to Venezuela. The mass of an adult varies from 150 to 250 kg, height from 77 cm to 108 cm, and body length can reach 221 cm in females and 204 cm in males. There is a prominent sagittal crest on the head. Color from dark brown to red, in young brown with horizontal white stripes that gradually disappear. Plains tapirs are active at night, eating fruits, leaves, and other plant materials.

a photo

Females become sexually mature at the age of 2-3 years. These tapirs breed all year round. Usually, a female gives birth to one baby weighing from 3.2 to 5.8 kg. It becomes independent after 18 months. Males do not provide any parental care to offspring.

mountain tapir

a photo

The mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) lives in the northern Andes, in the treeless plateaus and foggy forests of Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. It is the smallest of all tapir species. They have thin skin with thick hair and thick undercoat. Mountain tapir, mostly up to 1.8 m in length and reaches a height of about 0.9 m. The lips and tips of the ears are framed by a strip white color‒ known characteristics of mountain tapirs. They have long, massive bodies, very short and thin legs, a short neck and a short, thick tail. They also have small, rounded ears that are immobile but give the animal a keen sense of hearing. The most notable feature of all tapirs is their trunk, which is used for smelling.

This species is on the verge of extinction. The number of individuals is less than 2000, and it is expected that within the next 20 years the number of mountain tapirs will decrease by more than 20%. The significant decline in their numbers is due to extensive habitat destruction in the Andes.

Baird's Tapir

a photo

Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii) - got its name in honor of the zoologist Spencer Baird. Today they are found in isolated populations in southeastern Mexico, northern Colombia, and the Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador.

In their habitats, Baird's tapirs are the largest land mammals. They usually weigh between 150 and 300 kg. They are dark brown to reddish brown in color with white stripes around the large ears, white lips, and sometimes a white patch on the throat and chest. The snout and upper lips project forward to form a short, fleshy proboscis that is used to search for food. Body length is from 180 to 250 cm, tail length is from 5 to 13 cm, height is from 73 to 120 cm.

Baird's tapirs can breed at any time of the year, although this mostly occurs just before the rainy season. The gestation period is 390 to 400 days. Brood Size: One with an average birth weight of 9.4 kg. The baby stays with his mother for 1-2 years.

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Niramin - Mar 13th, 2016

Tapirs (lat. Tapirus), animals that appearance vaguely reminiscent of a pig. This is the same detachment of equids. Basic hallmark tapir can be called a small trunk with which animals capture food. They live in South and Central America and southeast Asia.

The tapir is a fairly large animal. Adult individuals reach a length of up to 2 meters, weight - up to 300 kg. AT wild nature they live up to 30 years. They live where there is water nearby. Rivers, lakes and artificial reservoirs are suitable. Water not only gives the tapir the opportunity to eat aquatic plants, it is a safe haven from natural enemies who dream of eating a pig with a trunk, but also a kind of spa. The fish living in the reservoir are able to clean the skin of a tapir.

In addition to what grows in water bodies, tapirs feed on and forest gifts. Leaves, berries and other forest vegetation are suitable for the animal's table.

The genus of animals is ancient, but, unfortunately, disappearing. It's the man's fault. Both meat and tapir skin are valued. In addition, as a result of pregnancy, which lasts about 400 days, one cub is most often born. Tapirs simply cannot keep up with the human appetite.

The baby has an interesting striped color. It helps him to merge with the surrounding landscape, but by about six months the animal acquires an adult color.

Only 5 species of tapir remain today: four Americans (Plain tapir, Mountain tapir, Central American tapir, Cabomani tapir) and one Asian (Black-backed tapir).

Plain tapirs are predominantly nocturnal. Their mountain, in particular - Andean relatives - diurnal.

See nice pictures tapirs of different types:

Photo: Tapirs with a cub.







Photo: Central American tapir

Photo: Black-backed tapir.

Photo: Mountain tapir

Photo: Plains tapir

Photo: Tapir kabomani.

Video: TAPIRs are the oldest animals that survived the ICE AGE.

Video: True Facts About The Tapir

Video: This is what a Tapir sounds like…..

Video: Tapir loves to be stroked. Funny animals tapirs in the zoo

TAPIR, a family of odd-toed mammals. Body length up to 2 m, weight up to 300 kg. The nose and upper lip form a small trunk. 4 species, in the forests of Southeast Asia, Central and South America. Life expectancy up to 30 years. Easily… … Modern Encyclopedia

TAPIR- the genus of mammals is alive. from the order equids; covered with wool, have small. trunk. Dictionary foreign words included in the Russian language. Pavlenkov F., 1907 ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Tapirs- (Tapiridae) a family of mammals of the order of odd-toed animals of the single genus Tapirus. These are large animals (2 2.5 m long with a height of about 1 m at the shoulders) of a massive build, however, they belong to less major representatives squad. ... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

TAPIR- (Tapirus), a genus of large mammals of the order of equids (Perissodactyla), allocated to a special family of tapirs (Tapiridae). The name of these animals in the language of one of the Brazilian tribes means fat and refers to their thick skin. Tapirs… Collier Encyclopedia

tapirs- a family of animals of the order equids. The nose and upper lip form a small trunk. Body length up to 2 m, weight up to 300 kg. 4 species, in the forests of Southeast Asia (1 species), Central and South America. Easily tamed. 3 species in the IUCN Red List. * … encyclopedic Dictionary

tapirs- tapyrai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas gentis apibrėžtis Gentyje 4 rūšys. Paplitimo arealas - Birma, Tailandas, Malakos pusiasalis, Sumatros sala, Centr. ir P. America. atitikmenys: lot. Tapirus English. tapir vok. Tapire rus … Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

Tapirs- Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris). TAPIR, a family of odd-toed mammals. Body length up to 2 m, weight up to 300 kg. The nose and upper lip form a small trunk. 4 species, in the forests of Southeast Asia, Central and South America. ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Tapirs- (Tapiridae) a family of mammals of the order equids. Outwardly clumsy, but mobile animals; the body is massive, the limbs are short; on the front legs 4, on the hind legs 3 toes, of which the middle one is the largest. At the ends... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Tapirs- (Tapiridae) a family of mammals of the odd-toed order with the only genus Tapirus. These are large animals (2 2.5 m long with a height at the shoulders of about 1 m) of a massive build, but they belong to smaller representatives of the order. ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

TAPIR- family of nih neg. equids. Nose and top. lip form a small trunk. Body length up to 2 m, weight up to 300 kg. 4 species, in the forests of the South East. Asia (1 species), center. and Yuzh. America. Easily tamed. 3 species in the IUCN Red List... Natural science. encyclopedic Dictionary

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Tapir- This is a uniquely beautiful animal belonging to the order of equids. In some ways it looks like a pig, but there are still differences. tapir animal herbivore. This is a rather stately animal that has strong legs, a short tail and a slender neck. They are clumsy enough.

The peculiarity of this cute creature is its upper lip, which looks like a trunk. Maybe for this reason there is an opinion that tapirs descended from mammoths. They also have thick wool, its color depends on the species:

• Mountain tapir. This species is considered the smallest. They are dark brown or black. The fur protects it from ultraviolet radiation and cold. The length of his body is approximately 180 cm. In weight, he reaches 180 kg.

• black-backed tapir. The largest of the species. It is distinguished by grayish-white spots on the sides and back. tapir weight reaches 320 kg, and body length up to 2.5 m.

• plains tapir. A feature of this seeing is a small withers at the back of the head. The weight reaches up to 270 kg, and the body length is 220 cm. It has a black-brown color, on the stomach and chest it is dark brown.

• Central American tapir. In external data, it is very similar to the plain tapir, only larger, weight up to 300 kg, and body length up to 200 cm.

About 13 species of tapirs have already become extinct. All females of the tapir family are larger than males and have more weight. Animal tapir character has a friendly and peaceful. He is very easy to tame. He gets along well with people and will make a wonderful pet.

Tapirs have poor eyesight, so they move slowly, and the trunk helps to explore environment. Tapirs are playful and love to swim. For humans, tapirs are valuable because they have a strong and wear-resistant skin, as well as superbly tender meat.

The Asians called this animal the "dream eater". This is because they firmly believe that if a figure of a tapir is carved out of wood or stone, it will help a person get rid of nightmares and insomnia.

Habitat and lifestyle

Tapirs live mostly in places with a lot of vegetation. One type of tapir can be found in the southeastern part of Asia, the rest in Central America or in the warm part.

Tapir can be found in deciduous forests With high humidity adjacent to water bodies. They are great swimmers, even underwater. Tapirs love water and spend most of their lives in it. In particular, they bathe to hide from the heat.

On the plains they are hunted, and. AT aquatic environment they are waiting. The main enemy is the person who hunts them.

In addition, people cut down forests, which are so necessary for the animal to exist. The number is significantly reduced, so tapirs are included in the Red Book. Unique photo of tapirs can be found on the Internet.

All types of tapirs, except for the mountain, are active at night. Mountain, on the contrary, leads a daily lifestyle. If the animal feels the hunt behind it, it will change its daytime life to nighttime. In this case find a tapir quite difficult.

Despite their slowness, anticipating danger, tapirs develop great speed. They also jump and crawl very well. The second is especially necessary in those places where there are a lot of fallen trees. What is not at all typical for an artiodactyl animal, they even know how to sit on their backside.

Food

As mentioned, tapirs are herbivores. Their diet includes leaves, buds, tree shoots, branches, fruits (about 115 various kinds plants). Due to the fact that tapirs are wonderful underwater swimmers, this makes it possible to collect algae from the bottom.

The biggest delicacy for tapir is salt. For her sake, they are ready to travel a huge distance. Also, for their health, the use of chalk and clay, which is rich in macronutrients, is beneficial. In captivity, animals are fed fruits, grass, vegetables, and concentrates necessary for nick.

A great helper in eating food is the trunk. With its help, the animal plucks leaves, collects fruits, and hunts underwater. In search of food, especially during dry times, tapirs can migrate long distances.

From a lack of vitamin D3 and ultraviolet light, tapirs can develop poorly and lag behind in growth, but this happens most often in captivity. Due to massive deforestation, tapirs are dying out from lack of food.

In some areas, tapirs can even cause damage. For example, on plantations where a chocolate tree is grown. A friendly animal by nature, it tramples down a tender plant and eats young leaves. They are also very fond of sugarcane, melons and mangoes. In captivity, tapirs can be fed the same food as pigs. They are not indifferent to sugar and crackers.

Reproduction and lifespan of tapir

The initiator of the creation of family relationships is the female. Mating in tapirs occurs throughout the year, and very often in the water. Mating games in animals are quite interesting. The male during flirting can run after the female for a long period.

Also, immediately before copulation, a pair of tapirs make characteristic sounds: grunts, squeals and whistles, but this is not always the case. Tapirs change their partners every year.

The female bears offspring for more than a year, almost 13-14 months. She prefers to give birth alone. One baby is born, sometimes there are two.

After birth, the weight of the crumbs is from 5 to 9 kg (depending on the type). The female feeds her offspring with milk (this happens in a supine position), such a period lasts about a year. After giving birth, the female with the baby live in dense bushes. After a few weeks, they get out, the baby's diet gradually begins to replenish with plant foods.

After the birth of offspring, tapirs are difficult to distinguish from each other. They all have the same color, which consists of spots and stripes. In this form, they are less visible to enemies. Over time (about 6-8 months), babies begin to acquire the color of the species they belong to.

According to repeated studies, it can be concluded that puberty in a young tapir occurs at the age of 1.5-2 years, in some species at 3.5-4 years. According to observations, the life expectancy of a tapir is approximately 30 years. Habitat does not affect age, whether it be will or home content.

Hunting for tapirs is prohibited in all its habitats. But much to my dismay, there is a large number of poachers. After all, reins and whips are made from the dense skin of this animal. For this reason, such magnificent and friendly animals as tapirs are on the verge of extinction. If the situation does not improve, then only tapir pictures.

An unusual tapir animal (you will see a photo, description and lifestyle in the article) combines the structure and color of several animals at once, and today “Me and the World” will tell about this ancient inhabitant of the planet.

Ancient inhabitant of the planet

Who is this, or could it be? This is an artiodactyl animal, a detachment of animals and the tapir family, resembling in color, but in structure a wild boar. But instead of a snout, a proboscis grows on the muzzle. And this boar-panda-elephant is called a tapir.

The length of his body can reach two meters or more, but usually it is less by 20-25 cm, and it grows about 1 meter in height. Average weight- 270-300 kg.

Because of the trunk, it seems that the muzzle is too elongated. With such a nose, the tapir reaches out to the delicacy, it can lengthen, and then retract back. At its tip there are hairs that serve as an organ of touch. Hearing is also well developed, but small eyes see quite poorly. On pretty developed jaw very sharp teeth.

The color of each species is different, and there are only five of them. Four live in America, and one in Asia is the Black-backed Tapir, whose skin is colored and resembles a panda.

Living environment and habits

They live in dense areas, where it is very difficult to meet them - they hide in the most remote places and are very afraid of people. They prefer to be constantly near water bodies, because water for them is both a habitat, and bathing, and protection from predators. Thanks to the ability to stay at the bottom for a long time, only when they sense the enemy, they rush into the water with a run and go along the bottom to the very bottom. deep place. For some time, tapirs are at the bottom, having had a snack on the plants of the reservoir at one time.

They love to swim very much, and after taking a mud bath, you definitely need to rinse in warm water. Each tapir bypasses its territory along their own trodden paths, and if they meet a relative, then everything can end in a brawl. Although it usually ends with "sound" negotiations, because they know how to talk to each other.

At night, they like to make forays into agricultural fields, eat sweet corn or something else. For this, the farmers brutally shoot them. Tapirs are also killed because of the very tasty and soft meat.

During the breeding season, from the moment of courtship to birth, about a year passes, since pregnancy lasts almost 400 days. Only one cub weighing up to 8 kg is born. The coloration resembles boar babies: the same white stripes on a gray background. They grow quickly and reach the size of an adult animal in six months, and soon they leave their mother in " adulthood».

plains tapir

Short stature and medium weight, dark brown color. A stiff, upright mane grows between the ears and along the neck. It lives on the mainland in South America, where it flows. What does the inhabitant of the plains eat? These are mostly leaves of trees and shrubs, aquatic plants, fruits and fruits, which it reaches with its trunk. If he cannot reach something, he stands on his hind legs, and with his front legs rests on the trunk.

Inhabitant of the center of America

Central American - the largest of the American tapirs, reaches a height of 120 cm, and weighs up to 300 kg. The mane is very small, and the color is gray with a light spot in front of the neck. In terms of lifestyle, it is similar to the plains, but is listed in the Red Book as an endangered species.

mountain dweller

The mountain is the smallest, its length does not exceed 180 cm, weight is 230-240 kg, and the height at the withers is only 70-80 cm. The coat is dark brown, almost black, unlike other animals, soft, wavy, thick. Lives in the Andes, rising to a height of up to 4000 km. The lifestyle is unknown, because it can be found very rarely, therefore it is listed in the Red Book as very rare.

Asian look

It is also called Indian. Black-backed is the largest of all American and reaches a weight of just over 300 kg and a body length of more than 250 cm. With a long, strong trunk, powerful, strong legs. The middle of the body is grayish-white (saddle cap), the rest of the body is black. It seems that such a color is bright, but on a sunny day, the black-backed tapir is difficult to notice. They live in the tropics of Sumatra, in southern Thailand and Burma. The lifestyle is the same as other species.

Tapirs do well in captivity. For example, in the Moscow Zoo, this beast perfectly coexists with wildebeest and giraffes.

Video

Now you know what an unusual and ancient animal looks like - Tapir. It is a pity that every year their number is reduced. And the main reason is extermination for the sake of meat. Now it is important to preserve these animals that survived even the Ice Age.

Black-backed tapir (lat. Tapirus indicus) is an equid-hoofed mammal from the Tapir family (Tapiridae). It lives in Sumatra, as well as in Thailand, Vietnam, Burma and Malaysia. It is often referred to as the Indian or Malayan tapir.

This species was discovered by Europeans in 1819 and got its name from a white spot on the back of the body, called saddlecloth. The tapir family is represented by 4 species, of which 3 species (mountain, lowland and Central American) live in tropical forests Central and South America.

These amazing animals are considered relatives of rhinos and horses.

They are called living relics, they have been living on our planet for more than 35 million years and have practically not changed during this time. The fossil remains of these animals found in Great Britain date back to about 100 thousand years old. In those distant times, they were still widespread throughout the world.

In Asia, the black-backed tapir is valued not only for its tasty, pork-like meat, but is also considered the keeper of home comfort and a formidable repeller of evil spirits.

Behavior

This species lives exclusively in areas covered with dense tropical forests. There he finds a safe haven and an abundance of plant food. The lair is usually located near the source fresh water springs, rivers or lakes.

Tapirs can also settle in swampy areas, they love coolness and mud baths. In order not to get bogged down in the swamp, they spread their toes wide apart. Animals are excellent swimmers and can dive. Particularly impressive is their ability to walk underwater along the bottom of a reservoir like hippos. To inhale air, it is enough for them to expose only the tip of their elongated nose.

In case of danger, black-backed tapirs flee, able to easily climb steep hillsides. They belong to non-ruminant herbivores, feed mainly on young leaves of trees and shrubs, rarely eat fruits and herbaceous vegetation.

In the process of searching for food, tapirs continuously feel the ground with a sensitive short trunk, accurately identifying the smell of their relatives and predators.

They are convinced individualists, lead a solitary nocturnal lifestyle, and only mother and her funny cubs form family groups. Significant paths are laid in the forest, leading mainly to a watering place. They strenuously mark them, scattering urine around. When meeting a relative, they take a threatening stance, snort and bare their teeth.

The tapir's eyesight is poor, but its hearing and sense of smell are simply excellent. The wedge-shaped body allows him to move very quickly among dense thickets, having heard the slightest suspicious noise.

reproduction

The mating season takes place in April-May. At this time, partners in love tirelessly make lingering whistling sounds and gently bite each other's sides and ears. Pregnancy lasts about 400 days. Cute ones are born
the striped and nosed young are dark brown in color with many longitudinal white stripes.

The weight of newborn babies is 7-10 kg. Cubs grow very quickly and reach the dimensions of adult animals by 7 months. Upon reaching this age, the children's color begins to disappear.

Description

Body length 180-220 cm, height at withers 60-105 cm, weight 250-500 kg, tail 5-10 cm. Males are usually smaller than females. The number of teeth is 42 or 44. The head, front of the body and hind limbs are black. The back and sides are covered with grayish-white hair. The hairline is short and sparse.

The skin on the head and back of the neck, up to 25 mm thick, protects the animal from damage when moving in thickets and from bites of predators. A small trunk was formed as a result of the fusion of the nose and upper lip. The back is higher than the withers. The massive body is distinguished by rounded outlines.

The legs are short but very muscular and allow for decent speed over short distances. The front ends with four, and the back with three fingers. The eyes are small, round, brownish. Occasionally there are specimens with a black color.

Black-backed tapirs easily get used to captivity and do well in zoos. AT vivo their numbers are constantly declining due to deforestation in Southeast Asia, so they are recognized as a vulnerable species. Since the middle of the last century, the previously popular trade in tapir meat has been banned in Thailand, the capture or sale of this animal can result in a fine of 5-6 thousand dollars. USA.

The life expectancy of the black-backed tapir is about 30 years.

Tapir is a genus of herbivorous animals, a detachment of artiodactyls. This genus consists of 4 species.

These are one of the most ancient animals, they live on our planet for about 60 million years. Previously, they lived almost all over the Earth, but today they are found only in southeastern regions Asia and South America. It is worth noting that the population is extremely low, this species is threatened with extinction.

black-backed tapir

Black-backed tapir - the most large view tapirs. These animals live in Asia, on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra.

Individual representatives of this species can be found in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. About 150 years ago, black-backed tapirs lived in Indochina, but today they live only in separate zones isolated from each other.

Representatives of this species have a large spot of light gray color (saddle cap) on their backs. This is where the view got its name from. The rest of the body is black and only the tips of the ears, like the saddle, are light gray. This color performs a camouflage function. From afar, a black-backed tapir can be mistaken for a large boulder. The coat of these animals is short and coarse. The thickest coat is on the head and neck, it protects the tapir well from the claws and teeth of predators.

Has a massive body. Legs are strong. The muzzle ends in a flexible small trunk, which is a fused nose with a lip. The tail is small, its length is 7-10 centimeters. There are 3 fingers on the hind limbs, and 4 on the front.

The sight of black-backed tapirs is very poor, but they have an excellent sense of smell and hearing. Males are slightly smaller than females. Body length varies from 1.8 to 2.5 meters. The height at the withers reaches 90-110 centimeters. Representatives of the species weigh 270-320 kilograms. But some individuals can reach 500 kilograms.

The gestation period is 390 days. The female gives birth to 1 baby, weighing 7 kilograms. Its body is covered with chestnut-colored fur, which is diluted with light stripes and spots. Adult color in young animals appears at 7 months. The female feeds her offspring with milk for up to 8 months. Puberty occurs at 3 years. The life expectancy of this species in the wild is on average 30 years. Black-backed tapirs feed on plant foods and sometimes cause damage to crops, which causes hostility from people.

Plains or South American tapir

They live in the Amazon rainforest, located east of the Andes. Representatives of the species live in Brazil, Venezuela, Paraguay, Argentina and Colombia. The western part of the range includes Ecuador and Peru.

South American tapirs have a dark brown coat, while the legs and belly are lighter than the back and sides. The tips of the ears are trimmed with gray fur. There is no scoop. It is a feature of only the Asian species.

The body length of plain tapirs ranges from 1.8-2.5 meters. Representatives of the species reach 80-110 centimeters at the withers. These animals weigh an average of 230 kilograms, but the maximum body weight can be 330 kilograms. There is a small mane on the back of the head.

Plains tapirs have muscular bodies with strong legs. There are 3 fingers on the hind legs, and 4 on the front. South American tapirs can swim well and even dive. Representatives of the species live on average 25 years, and centenarians reach the mark of 30 years of age.

Plain tapirs have great amount enemies. The main ones are jaguars, cougars, caimans and anacondas. From big cats tapirs escape in the water, but anacondas and crocodiles cannot be saved there, because they hunt well in the water. That is, poor tapirs are between two fires.

South American tapirs prefer a solitary lifestyle, but this behavior is not characteristic of all members of the genus. Animals mark the boundaries of the territory with urine, strangers are not allowed into possession.

The diet of these tapirs consists of plant foods. In addition to shoots and fruits, plain tapirs also eat algae. The gestation period is 390 days. The female gives birth to 1 cub, weighing 7 kilograms. The mother breastfeeds him for up to 8 months. Sexual maturity in representatives of the species occurs at the age of 3-4 years.

mountain tapir

They live in the Andes. This species lives in northern regions Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. As a habitat, they prefer plateaus and mountain forests. Mountain tapirs live at an altitude of 2000-4500 meters above sea level. These animals rise only to the eternal glaciers, they do not live in the snow.

The body color of mountain tapirs is dark brown or black. Often a dark tone is diluted with interspersed with light hairs. The cheeks and belly are lighter than the rest of the body. The lips are framed by a white stripe. The same color is present on the tips of the ears.

Since mountain tapirs live at altitude, they have long and fluffy coats. The body length of the representatives of the species is on average 1.8 meters, and the height at the withers ranges from 75 to 100 centimeters. Mountain tapirs weigh 150-220 kilograms, while females are heavier than males by about 10%. The number of toes is the same as in the previous species. The trunk and tail are flexible.

Mountain tapirs feed on branches, leaves and fruits. Pregnancy lasts 390 days. 1 cub is born, weighing 6 kilograms. The mother feeds him with milk for about 5 months. Puberty in mountain tapirs occurs at 3 years. They live an average of 27 years, but this is in captivity, how many representatives of the species live in the wild is unknown.

Baird's tapir (Central American)

They live in Central America and a small area of ​​South America. Representatives of the species are found in northern Colombia, Ecuador and southern Mexico. This species was named after the zoologist Spencer Byrd.

These animals prefer a solitary lifestyle. They live in dense thickets. They swim and dive very well. In times of danger, they hide in the water. The diet consists of plant foods.

At the back of the head, Baird's tapirs have a small mane. Color dark brown. There are cream-colored spots on the neck and cheeks. The body of these animals is strong, the tail is short, there is a small trunk. The number of fingers in Baird's tapirs is the same as that of their counterparts.

Central American tapirs reach up to 2 meters in length, while the height at the withers is 120 centimeters. They weigh an average of 250-320 kilograms, but there are individuals weighing 400 kilograms. This species is the strongest among the brethren.

The gestation period is 390 days. Most often, the female gives birth to the 1st baby. Its body is covered with a reddish-brown skin with light stripes and spots. At the age of 7 months they have an adult color. At the age of 3 weeks, babies already know how to swim well. The mother feeds the offspring with milk for 10 months. Sexual maturity occurs at 3-4 years.

The average lifespan of the species is 30 years, but some individuals live a couple of years longer. Baird's tapirs are very cautious, they try not to catch the eye of either people or predators. Despite this fact, the number of the species is very low - about 5000 individuals. The massive deforestation of tropical forests leads to a reduction in numbers, that is, it is destroyed habitat the habitats of these animals.

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Tapirs are herbivores that belong to the order of equids, look a bit like a pig, but unlike the latter, they have a short trunk adapted for grasping.

The mountain tapir is the second largest species of tapir. Its body length is up to 180 cm, height is from 75 to 80 cm, weight is in the range from 130 to 180 kg. Adult females are heavier than males. The body is bulky, the legs are slender. Front paws with four toes, hind paws with three. The tail is reduced. The muzzle ends in a short trunk. The coloration varies from dark brown to black, the lips and tips of the ears are light. The difference from other types of tapirs is that the skin of mountain tapirs is covered with wool, which protects the animal from the cold and high ultraviolet radiation in the mountains.

As a herbivore, the mountain tapir feeds on leaves, branches, berries, and fruits. Sometimes he visits the fields in search of food. A favorite delicacy for mountain tapir are the flowers of aster and pink plants. In dry times, sedge and cereals become the basis of the diet. And in the thickets big plants from the genus Gunnera, which look like giant burdocks, tapirs not only feed, but also hide from enemies. In general, about 200 species of plants are included in the diet of mountain tapir.

To get to food, the mountain tapir stands on its hind legs and reaches for it with its trunk.

To maintain the water-salt balance and neutralize poisons from poisonous plants, mountain tapirs drink water from mineral springs and lick the minerals.

The range of the mountain tapir is very small and includes only the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru. They live in mountain forests and on plateaus up to the snowy border and an altitude of 4500 m, at altitudes up to 2000 m they are rare. Favorite places for the life of mountain tapirs are bushes and swampy forests.

Common types of tapir

The most common type of tapir. Weight ranges from 150 to 270 kg, females are larger than males. The body length reaches 220 cm, the tail is very short, up to 8 cm. The height is from 77 to 108 cm. There is a small mane on the back of the head. The back is painted black-brown, the chest, belly and legs are dark brown. The ears are white on the edge. The neck and cheeks are also white. The body is compact, the legs are strong, the eyes are small, the nose is proboscis.

The species is widely distributed in South America east of the Andes, from Colombia and Venezuela to southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. Plains tapir, despite the name, is an inhabitant of tropical forests, where it is found near water bodies.

Height reaches 120 cm, body length up to 200 cm, weight about 300 kg. The maximum recorded weight of the black-backed tapir was 540 kg. It is the largest tapir in America, and the largest wild mammal in the American tropics. Outwardly, it resembles a plain tapir, but is larger than the latter in size and with a shorter mane at the back of the head. The coat is dark brown, cheeks and neck are yellow-gray. The body is bulky, the legs are slender. The tail is very short. The trunk is small.

The species is distributed from the south of Mexico through the territory of Central America to the west of Colombia and Ecuador. Lives in tropical forests, near water bodies.

The only Asian tapir species and the largest species with a body length of 1.8 to 2.4 m, a height of 0.75 to 1 m, and a weight of 250 to 320 kg. Females are larger than males. The body is massive, the legs are short. The tail is short, 5-10 cm long. The ears are small. Muzzle with a small flexible trunk. The eyes are small. The species differs from relatives by a large grayish-white spot (saddle cap) on the back and sides, which is how it got its name. The rest of the color is black or dark brown, the tips of the ears are outlined with a white border. Such an unusual color performs protective function, in the dark, the animal is lost, only a white spot is noticeable, and predators do not recognize prey. The coat is short, sparse, there is no mane on the back of the head. The skin on the head and nape is thick, up to 2.5 cm.

The species is found in the south and in the center of the island of Sumatra, in Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, in the south of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.

In the appearance of the female and male mountain tapir, sexual dimorphism is practically not manifested. Females differ in that they are larger than males.

Mountain tapirs lead a solitary lifestyle. They are active mainly at night, during the day they prefer to hide in forest thickets. Mountain tapirs are excellent climbers, they swim and dive well, find plants under water that they eat, like to dig in the mud. These animals are very mobile, they crawl under fallen trees, jump, and even are able to sit on their backside, which is not typical for other ungulate species. By nature, mountain tapirs are very timid, in case of danger they immediately hide in the water.

Mountain tapirs have no seasonality in breeding. Pregnancy lasts 13 months. One or two cubs are born. Baby tapirs are lighter in color than adults, have a pattern of dark spots and broken lines, which is necessary for camouflage and disappears before the second year of life. The entire first year of life continues milk feeding of the baby, after which he switches to plant foods and becomes independent. Females reach puberty at the age of 3-4 years, in males it occurs a year later.

Mountain tapirs live an average of about 30 years. Well tamed by man.

Jaguars and spectacled bears are predators that prey on the mountain tapir. Young animals are often attacked by Andeans.

In addition, tapirs suffer from ixodid ticks of the genus Amblyomma. During a drought, horseflies interfere with them, tapirs hide from them under water.

• The population of the mountain tapir is only 2500 animals, this species is the rarest of its relatives. The mountain tapir is considered a threatened species. Due to competition with cattle, the animal leaves large parts of its distribution area. And today grazing cattle even enters national parks.