Tapirs
ExploreMammals
Tapirs
tapiridae
Tapirs are ancient, hog-like mammals belonging to the order Perissodactyla, making them close relatives of horses and rhinoceroses. Characterized by their compact, muscular bodies and highly flexible, prehensile noses, tapirs have roamed the Earth for tens of millions of years, earning them the title of 'living fossils.' They play a crucial ecological role as 'forest gardeners' by dispersing seeds across vast distances through their feces, thereby maintaining the structural diversity and health of their forest ecosystems. Known for being shy, solitary, and excellent swimmers, these remarkable creatures navigate dense undergrowth with ease.
Habitat: Found in dense tropical rainforests, grasslands, and montane cloud forests, almost always near bodies of water.
Appearance
Tapirs have a distinctive barrel-shaped body, short legs, and a short, stubby tail. Their most prominent feature is their prehensile snout, which is actually an extension of the nose and upper lip. Depending on the species, their coat is either a uniform dark brown or black, or a striking high-contrast black-and-white pattern as seen in the Malayan tapir. Calves of all species are born with dark coats covered in white stripes and spots for camouflage, which fade as they mature.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderPerissodactyla
Category
MammalsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Tapir calves have watermelon-like patterns of stripes and spots that act as perfect camouflage in the dappled sunlight of the forest floor.
Tapirs have been around for over 20 million years and have changed very little, making them living fossils.
They are exceptional swimmers and can even dive or walk along the bottoms of riverbeds to feed or escape predators.
Special abilities
Ability
Prehensile Snout
Their flexible nose allows them to grab hard-to-reach branches, pull down leaves, and even act as a snorkel while swimming.
Ability
Aquatic Submergence
Tapirs can submerge completely underwater to escape predators, using their nostrils as snorkels and walking on riverbeds.
Ability
Forest Regeneration
As vital seed dispersers, they digest wild fruits and deposit intact seeds in nutrient-rich dung far from the parent trees.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 180-250 cm
- Weight
- 150-375 kg
- Lifespan
- 25-30 years
- Top Speed
- 48 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 1
- Incubation
- 390-410 days
Diet & Feeding
Tapirs are strictly herbivorous browsers, feeding on a wide variety of plant matter found in the forest understory and aquatic environments.
Age differences: Calves drink milk for the first few months before gradually transitioning to solid vegetation and fruits.
Primary Foods
- Leaves
- Shoots
- Wild fruits
- Aquatic plants
- Twigs
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Jaguar
Panthera onca
Jaguars are major predators of Baird's and Lowland tapirs in Central and South American rainforests.
eaten by
Tiger
Panthera tigris
Tigers occasionally prey upon the Malayan tapir in Southeast Asian habitats.
competitor
Leafcutter Ant
Atta cephalotes
Competes for fresh leaves and forest foliage in the understory of tropical rainforests.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Tapirs?
The easiest way to identify Tapirs is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Tapirs?
180-250 cm
How much does Tapirs weigh?
150-375 kg
How long does Tapirs live?
25-30 years
How fast can Tapirs move?
48 km/h
What does Tapirs eat?
Tapirs are strictly herbivorous browsers, feeding on a wide variety of plant matter found in the forest understory and aquatic environments.
Where is Tapirs usually found?
Found in dense tropical rainforests, grasslands, and montane cloud forests, almost always near bodies of water.
How does Tapirs hunt?
Foraging
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