TAPIR

NEWS: World Tapir Day is celebrated on April 27.

General Features

• Tapirs are large herbivorous mammals.
• Called “living fossils” → lineage dates back millions of years.
• Appearance: Short, flexible snout (proboscislike) used to grab leaves & fruits.
• Excellent swimmers → spend significant time in water bodies.
• Strictly herbivorous.
• Around 50% of diet = fruits → important for seed dispersal.

Distribution

• Found in jungle & forest regions of: South America, Central America, Southeast Asia
• Only 4 species, each in distinct geographical regions.

Ecological Importance

• Act as key seed dispersers → help in forest regeneration.

Species of Tapir (Very Important for Prelims)

Malayan Tapir

• Largest tapir species
• Found in Southeast Asia
• Black-and-white coloration → camouflage
• IUCN Status: Endangered

Baird’s Tapir

• Largest land mammal in Central America
• Habitat: Tropical forests + near water bodies
• IUCN Status: Endangered

Lowland Tapir

• Most widespread species
• Found in Amazon Basin
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Mountain Tapir

• Rarest species
• Found in High Andes mountains
• IUCN Status: Endangered