Class: MAMMALIA

Order: PERISSODACTYLA

Family: TAPIRIDAE This family of versatile-snouted mammals related to the rhinoceros contains only one genus – Tapirus - which is typically considered to contain about four species in all. All but one of these live in South America, these three being the Baird’s Tapir [T. bairdii], Mountain [or woolly] Tapir [T. pinchaque], and the Lowland Tapir [T. terrestris], the most common. The single exception of the genus is the Malayan Tapir [T. indicus], which, in spite of other species of its genus, is found not in the Americas at all, but rather in fragmented areas of South-east Asia. Such an anomaly is unusual until one looks at the fossil record, which gives a more diverse and widespread account of tapirs, showing that the group once established populations across the Old World, and that the general tapir body plan has changed relatively little over 35 million years of evolution. Although the Malayan Tapir is the largest today, even larger tapirs exist in years prior – the largest that is known, the aptly named “Giant Tapir”, is thought to have been around the size of a modern White Rhinoceros. Once given its own genus of Megatapirus, it is typically thought of today as the largest known species of Tapirus, with scientific name Tapirus augustus. Fossils attributed to the species have been found dating from 700,000 to 100,000 years ago. It was probably a close relative of today’s Malayan Tapir, living in the same area, though it was fairly larger. In 2013, a fifth species of tapir was also described – the “Kabomani Tapir” [T. kabomani] – the smallest of the South American tapirs. Camera footage showed the animals as smaller and darker than known species. However, to ascend the Kabomani Tapir as an individual species has been met with controversy amongst biologists, who consider the tapir similar enough as so to be conspecific with the Lowland species.

The general body plan of the tapir is perhaps unremarkable compared to its closest relatives – the four legs are relatively long, and the general body plan is fairly horizontal. What sets the tapir apart from its relatives, however, is the versatile snout, which, whilst fairly short, typically used to pluck food which hangs from trees overhead. Perhaps, this is why is zoo animals, the snout is shorter than in that of wild animals, as most zoo tapirs eat food off the ground. Similar to the rhinoceros, the rounded ears of the tapir stand erect. Unlike the rhinoceros, the shoulder is not exaggerated in comparison to the rest of the body. The three species of tapir that live in South America all share similarities in colouration – the Lowland Tapir is brownish, with a white face. The Baird’s Tapir is typically dark brown [sometimes bluish], with yellowish fur on the face. The Mountain Tapir looks fairly similar to the Baird’s Tapir, but its hair is more pronounced. The Kabomani Tapir is typically thought of as a darker-skinned population of Lowland Tapir. The most unique species in colouration is seemingly the Malayan Tapir – for it is mostly blackish, but has a white area around the body. The feet of the tapir are unique amongst mammals – the forefeet have three larger toes and a smaller toe [hence, four toes in all]; but on the back-feet, the smaller toe is absent completely. The younger tapir is perhaps better camouflaged than either parent – it is of a brownish colouration, adorned with white, cryptic markings.

Of all four species of tapir, the primary habitat is of well-irrigated forest. Tapirs spend a considerable amount of time in a watered environment, which allows them to avoid predators such as jaguar; or in the case of the Malayan Tapir, the tiger. The elongated snout, whilst not necessarily developed for this purpose, works as an efficient snorkel as the animal is all-but completely submerged in the river. As well as swimming, tapirs also use rivers as a latrine; a large area of excretion. Tapirs are largely nocturnal, residing in thick areas of forest for much of the day. The specialised snout of the tapir is helpful for nocturnal lifestyle, giving the tapir a good sense of smell. As such, tapirs urinate to scent-mark their territory. The snout also works to pluck overhead branches, an element of the tapir’s herbivorous diet. Long believed to be mainly solitary, tapirs seem to graze frequently in small groups or pairs. After mating, all species of tapir have a gestational period which lasts about 13 months. The offspring are sexually mature at 2 years of age. The main vocalisation of tapirs is of a shrill whistle, often followed by the whistle of another tapir.

Tapirs have always been of necessity to Indigenous of the rainforest as a source of food, though it is believed that overhunting of the tapir has led to a decline in population. In Japan, the tapir played an important role in mythology as the dream-eater Baku, and the name ‘Baku’ now is also used to refer to zoological tapirs. The scientific name of the woolly tapir, Tapirus pinchaque, refers to the mythical ‘pinchaque’, believed to have lived across the same range as the tapir. In the 21st century, much attention has been drawn from the public to the characteristic nature of the tapir, and its endangered status in the wild, with multiple organisations donating money to fund the preservation of the four species of tapir in the wild. As such, in the Western hemisphere, the tapir is somewhat a popular zoo-animal, making the fairly unspecialised husbandry of the tapir fairly helpful, in some extent, to its preservation.

Even if the tapir body plan has changed little after 35 million years, two species of South American tapirs are classed as vulnerable, with the Mountain and Malayan Tapir now considered an endangered species. Threats such as deforestation and artificial flooding have long been established for the species, though a more recent threat that appears to arouse concern is that of hunting – even if this was looked at as a fairly minor threat in the past, it is feared that other prey sources are becoming depleted, leading to an increase of hunting tapirs. Only about 1500 Malayan Tapirs are thought to exist in the wild today, meaning that whilst an immediate extinction is unlikely, it does not negate the possibility of such happening in the future, should current action continue. It is thought that similar threats endanger the tapirs of South America, even though the tapir [particularly Lowland and Malayan] is a popular zoo animal, no organised captive reintroduction programme yet exists.