Tapir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tapir |
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| Brazilian tapir | |
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Tapiridae
Gray, 1821
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Tapirus
Brünnich, 1772
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Tapirs are amazing animals that look a bit like pigs but have a short, flexible snout. They are a type of mammal called an 'odd-toed ungulate'. This means they have an odd number of toes on their feet, like horses and rhinos. Tapirs belong to a group of animals called the Tapiridae family. The only living group of tapirs is called Tapirus.
The first tapirs appeared a very long time ago, during the Eocene epoch. By the Oligocene epoch, they looked quite similar to the tapirs we see today. For much of their history, tapirs lived all over the Northern Hemisphere. However, the tapirs in the north died out about 10,000 years ago.
Contents
What are the different types of tapirs?
There are five main types of tapirs alive today. They are all part of the Tapiridae family:
- Brazilian tapir (also called Lowland tapir) (Tapirus terrestris)
- Mountain Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque)
- Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii)
- Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)
- Kabomani tapir (Tapirus kabomani)
What do tapirs look like?
Tapirs are fairly large animals. They are usually about 2 m (7 ft) long and about 1 meter (3 ft) tall. They can weigh between 150 and 300 kg (330 to 700 lb). Tapirs have a rounded body and very short, stubby tails.
Tapir feet and snout
Tapirs have hoofed toes. On their front feet, they have four toes. On their back feet, they have three toes. A tapir's upper lip and nose are joined together to form a short, flexible trunk. They also have a long tongue.
Tapir fur and colors
Most tapirs have short fur. Their fur can be reddish-brown, grey, or almost black. The Mountain Tapir and the Asian Tapir are a bit different. The Mountain Tapir has longer, woolly fur. The Asian Tapir has a black front part and legs, but a white middle part and back.
All baby tapirs are born with brown fur. They have lighter stripes and dots. This special coloring helps them hide from predators, like a natural camouflage.
Tapir senses
Tapirs cannot see very well. However, they have excellent hearing. They also have a very good sense of smell. Tapirs are also very good swimmers.
Where do tapirs live?
Most tapirs live in the forests of South America and Central America. The only exception is the Asian Tapir, which lives in Southeast Asia. Tapirs prefer to live in dense forests. They also like to stay close to water.
What is a tapir's life cycle?
Tapirs are usually active at night. They are herbivores, meaning they eat plants. Their diet includes leaves, fruit, berries, vegetables, and nuts.
Tapir social life and reproduction
Tapirs usually live alone. After a pregnancy of about 13 months, the female tapir gives birth to a single baby. When the baby is about six months old, its fur starts to lose its baby colors. By the time a young tapir is one year old, it looks like an adult. At this age, it leaves its mother. Tapirs become adults when they are about 4 years old. Tapirs can live for 25 to 30 years.
Gallery
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Brazilian or lowland tapir
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Baird's tapir
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Malayan tapir
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A young Brazilian tapir
Images for kids
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Tapir showing the flehmen response
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South American tapir earthenware from Suriname, made before 1914
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Malayan tapir skull
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Baird's tapir skull
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South American tapir skull
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Mountain tapir skull
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The undersides of the front feet (left, with four toes) and back feet (right, with three toes) of a Malayan tapir at rest
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Adult Malayan tapir
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An adult Malayan tapir sitting
See also
In Spanish: Tapíridos para niños
