South American Tapir

South American Tapir

Description

The South American, or lowland, tapir is the largest land mammal in South America, reaching about 2 metres in length and weighing 150 to 250 kg. Its most distinctive feature is a short, flexible proboscis formed from the upper lip and nose, which it uses to grasp food. The coat is a dark greyish-brown, and a low crest of stiff hair runs along the neck.

Habitat

It ranges across South America east of the Andes, from Colombia and Venezuela south to Paraguay and northern Argentina. Tapirs favour tropical and subtropical forests, wetlands, and savannas, and are rarely found far from water.

Diet

Tapirs are herbivores that browse on leaves, buds, shoots, fruit, and aquatic plants, plucking their food with the mobile snout. Because they swallow and disperse so many seeds, they play an important role in regenerating the forest.

Reproduction

After a long gestation of roughly 13 months (about 390 to 400 days), the female gives birth to a single calf. Newborns wear a striking pattern of white stripes and spots for camouflage, which fades at six to eight months of age.

Lifespan

Tapirs typically live around 25 years in the wild and can reach 30 years or more in human care.

Did you know?

A strong swimmer and diver, the tapir often takes to water to cool off and to escape predators, sometimes walking along the bottom of a river or lake.