Tapir

Tapir Facts

Size	Up to 7.9 ft (243 cm) (length)
Speed	Up to 30 mph (48 km/h)
Weight	330-705 lb (150-320 kg)
Lifespan	20-25 years
Food	Plants, leaves, fruits
Predators	Wildcats, crocodiles
Habitat	Mexico, Central America, South America, Asia
Order	Odd-toed ungulates
Family	Tapiridae
Scientific name	Tapiridae
Characteristics	Long and flexible proboscis (trunk)

Main Characteristics

What is this? A pig? An anteater? No, it’s a tapir! The hoofed animal has been living on earth since millions of years and it has not much changed since then. With the exception of the Antarctic, tapir fossils have been found on all continents of the earth. 10,000 years ago, tapirs even lived in South California. Although they resemble pigs and anteaters, they are related to horses and rhinos. Its most distinctive feature is the short trunk

Tapir Photo: NancyS/Shutterstock

Anatomy and Appearance

Tapirs Have Trunks

The nose and the upper lip of the tapir have grown together and form a flexible trunk resembling that of an elephant. The tapir uses the trunk to reach for branches with tasty leaves and fruits. When tapirs are afraid, they hide in the water. The only thing that can still be seen of them is their trunk, which they use like a snorkel.

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Tapir-Baby Tapir-Baby - Photo: Signature Message/Shutterstock

Tapir Species

In all, there are only four tapir species. All of them are endangered or threatened animal species. They primarily live in swamp regions and rain forests. One tapir species even lives in mountain regions. Tapirs can be found in many different areas from sea level to mountainous regions up to 14,763 feet (4,500 meters) height above sea level:

Malayan tapir (Asia)
Baird’s tapir (Central America)
Mountain tapir (South America)
South American tapir (South America)

The Largest and the Smallest

The largest and heaviest tapir is the Malayan tapir with a length of up to eight feet (2.43 meters). The mountain tapir is the smallest species and reaches a length of about six feet (1.82 meters).

The Malayan Tapir

The Asian tapir can only be found in Thailand, Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia. It is very different from all other species: While its head and legs are black, it looks as if it is wearing a “white blanket” on its back. This is the reason why it is called "Schabrackentapir" in German (from the Turkish word “çaprak” – saddle cloth). The biggest natural enemy of the Asian tapir is the tiger.

The Baird‘s Tapir

The Baird’s tapir is also called "macho de monte" (mountain cow) and one of the largest of all tapir species. It is the national animal of the state Belize, and its birthday is a national holiday.

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The Mountain Tapir

The smallest tapir species lives in the Andes Mountains in South America: The mountain tapir has a thick coat which protects it from the cold mountain climate.

Tapir Photo: Dagmara Ksandrova/Shutterstock

Behavior

Do Tapirs Make Sounds?

Imagine yourself ranging the tropical jungle when you suddenly hear the screeching noise of car brakes. You ask yourself: Where does this come from? Is there a road in the deepest jungle? No, it’s a tapir! The animals use high whistling sounds to “talk“ to each other. If they snort and stamp the ground with their feet, tapirs show that they are ready to defend themselves against an attack.

Can Tapirs Swim?

Despite their clumsy physique, tapirs feel most comfortable in the water love to spend a lot of time in it to cool down and to dive for tasty water plants. Tapir babies are able to swim a few days after being born.

Tapir Photo: Ammit Jack/Shutterstock

Fun Facts

The Tapir in Other Languages

The Indonesian word "badak" means "rhinoceros" as well as "tapir". In Thailand, the tapir is called "P’som-sett", which means "The mix is ready". This refers to the belief that the animal was created from other animals which were left over. But originally the word tapir derives from the language of Brazilian natives and means “chubby” (referring to the backside of the animal).

Tapirs as Road Construction Workers

With their hoofs, tapirs leave distinct traces on soft ground, which often lead to water holes. Sometimes those traces are used for the planning of roads through the mountainous landscape.