Facts and Features of Tapir

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class :Mammalia

Order: Perissodactyla

Family: Tapiridae

Genre: Tapirus

Scientific name: Tapirus

Type: Mammal

Diet: Herbivore

Size: 98-150cm (39-59in)

Weight: 152-300kg (330-700 £)

Maximum speed: 49 km / h (30 mph)

Duration of Life: 19-25 years

Lifestyle: Solitary

Preservation status: Endangered

Color: White, Black, Brown, Grey

Skin : Hair

Favorite food: Leaves

Habitat: lowland, wet forests

Average Litter Size: 1

Main Prey: leaves, grass, buds, branches

Attackers: humans, wild cats, Crocodile

Distinct Features: long, flexible snout and hump on the shoulders

The tapir being a large mammal and having pig like appearance, is believed to be closely attached to horses and rhinos.The tapir is found in high temperature Southern Hemisphere areas consisting of wet and large dense wood lands.Today there are four known species, all of which are classified as endangered and they are Baird's Tapir ,found in Central America and northern South America.It can be found out by the info that this species of tapir face has a cream coloured layer.The Malayan Tapir ( also known as the Asian tapir ) is the known as largest species of all and consists of white band across his body. 

In the recent pasts they were found in the tropical forests of South-East Asia, but today due to loss of habitat they are found in a quite small range.The mountain tapir is the smallest of all species and (as the name directs ),it is found in mountainous regions instead of  lowland forests.The mountain tapir inhabits in high forests of Andes mountains throughout Colombia ,Ecuador and some parts of northern Peru.The Brazilian tapir ( also popular as the South American tapir ) is known to be a awesome swimmer and is usually found near water in the Amazon rainforest .

The tapir is a herbivore and passes time for food to eat.It takes leaves,twigs,branches,buds,shoots,berries, fruits and watery plants.The tapir has very few predators due to it's large size,but is known to be eaten by wild cats such as tigers, jaguars and cougars along with large reptiles such as crocodiles and even some odd snake . The man is thought to be the most common danger for tapir as they are hunted for food and also lives as domesticated animals.

Tapirs have a long and flexible nose (similar to an elephant's trunk ,but no way near as large).The tapir uses it prehensile snout to gather leaves and branches of bushes and low trees.Instead of their sturdy build , tapirs are known to be great swimmers and spend most of their time near the water, to cool down.Tapirs are also known to dive into shallow water in order to take lush aquatic plants .

Tapirs mate during the coldest months of April and May.After a gestation period of more than a year ,the female gives birth to one baby.When a baby is first born ,weigh about 10 kg and in comparison to adult tapirs ,the baby tapir has stripy coat.Tapirs women are thought to breed every alternate year and when the babies are around 2-3 years old they leave their mother.

Today, all four species of tapir are considered endangered.The main reasons behind this are deforestation and loss of habitat ,hunting by humans.Tapirs are hunted for food and skin.Tapirs are solitary animals with the exception of the mating season and the tapir mother feeds baby tapir.Due to the shy nature, little interaction occurs between man and wild tapirs (besides hunters).However , tapirs are known to protect themselves with their powerful jaws and rarely it attacks to humans.It causes a major damage by biting others!