Facts about Tapirs explain about an herbivorous mammal. This animal has large body. It reminds you with the shape of a pig though it does not have any relationship with a pig. Moreover, tapirs have the prehensile nose trunk. Tapirs are the animals, which live in Southeast Asia, Central America, and South America. They occupy the forests and jungles. They are included in the genus Tapirus and family Tapiridae. If you want to know more about tapirs, look at the details below:
Facts about Tapirs 1: the species
Tapirs have five extant species. Can you mention? They are the mountain tapir, kabomani tapir, Baird’s tapir, Malayan tapir and Brazilian tapir.
Facts about Tapirs 2: Endangered or Vulnerable Animals
The Brazilian tapir, Malayan tapir, Baird’s Tapir and Mountain Tapir are included in the Endangered and Vulnerable Animals according to the IUCN Red List.
Tapirs
Facts about Tapirs 3: the closest relatives
The zebras, donkeys, horses and rhinoceroses are considered as the closest relatives of tapirs.
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Facts about Tapirs 4: New World Species
The New World Species of tapirs are Brazilian tapirs, Mountain tapirs, Baird’s tapirs and Kabomani tapirs. The Malayan tapir is included as the Old World species. It has the scientific name of Tapirus indicus.
Facts about Tapirs 5: the extinct species
The extinct species of tapirs are Tapirus copei, Tapirus augustus, Tapirus greslebini, Tapirus oliverasi and Tapirus cristatellus.
Tapir
Facts about Tapirs 6: the weight and size
The average weight of tapirs is 330 to 700 lb and 150 to 300 kilogram. Tapirs can stands at the height of 3 feet or 1 meter at the shoulder. The length of most tapirs is measured around 6.6 feet or 2 metres.
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Facts about Tapirs 7: the coat
The coat of tapirs has a number of colors. It can be in black, grey and brown. The mountain tapir has the longer and woolly fur. On the other hand, the white saddle shaped market is found at the back of the Malayan tapirs.
Facts about Tapirs 8: the physical appearance
Let us talk about the physical appearance of tapirs. The long penis is spotted on the male tapirs. The female tapirs own a pair of mammary glands. Tapir has a flexible organ. It is their proboscis. The tapir can move this organ in various directions. The shortest proboscis is round on the Brazilian tapirs. The longest one is spotted in the Malayan tapir. They also have brown eyes.
Facts about Tapirs
Facts about Tapirs 9: sexual maturity
Tapirs have their sexual maturity at the age of 3 to 5 years. The gestation period of a female tapir lasts for 13 months. They will produce a single young.
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Facts about Tapirs 10: the lifespan
The life span of tapirs living in the captivity and wild reaches around 25 to 30 years. They like eating leaves, berries and fruits.
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