SOUTH AMERICAN TAPIR

Tapirus terrestris

  • Common name:
    SOUTH AMERICAN TAPIR

    Scientific name:
    Tapirus terrestris

    Class:
    Mammals

    Order:
    Perissodattili

    Family:
    Tapiridi

    Provenance:
    South America

    Diet:
    herbs – fruits – vegetables

    Habitat:
    Tropical rainforest

    Reproduction:
    About 13 month, 1 puppy for chilbirth

  • The South American Tapir is the most well known and numerous species. It willingly lives close to rivers. In fact, it is a very good swimmer and is able to cross even large rivers without difficulty. All the Perissodactyla, whose food is mainly leaves, have a very enlarged and mobile upper lip. In the tapirs, this snout is elongated making it look like a trunk with a slight bulge on the lower end.
    This trunk its not only mobile in all directions but also retractable.
    Since the skin of the Tapir is very tough, this species is subject to hunting for the production of bridles and whips.