Baird's Tapir
Tapirus bairdii
Classification
Kingdom Animalia: Animals are multicellular, heterotrophs, and are capable of movement.
Phylum Chordata: Chordates share characteristics such as bilateral symmetry, a complete digestive system, and the presence of a bony or cartilaginous endoskelton.
Subphylum Vertebrata: Vertebrates have a long vertebrae from head to tail, a digestive system with large organs and are able to move because of it's muscles attached to it's endoskeleton.
Class Mammalia: Mammals have three middle ear bones, hair and produce milk.
Order Perissodactyla: Perissodactyls have three toes and the middle one is longer. They also have total of 44 teeth and a simple stomach compared to most artiodactyls.
Family Tapiridae: Tapirs come from the Tapiridae family.
Genus Tapirus: Tapirs come from the Tapirus genus.
Species: Tapirus bairdii
Characteristics
Head and Body length- Baird's Tapir are about 180 to 250 cm in length
Weight: Baird's Tapirs weigh about 150 to 300 kilograms
Color: Tapirs are brown from above and pale under. They have white fringes around their ears, lips and sometimes have a white patch on their throat and chest. Baby tapirs have a reddish brown coat and whites stripes/spots.
Range: Baird's tapir range between southern Mexico to about Columbia in Central America, and Ecuador.
Food Habits/ Diets: Baird's Tapirs are herbivores and mostly eat leaves, but they also eat fruit, twigs, flowers, sedge, and grasses. When in season, fruits are preferred, but the amount varies by the habitat.
Habitat: Tapirs live in tropical rain forests, where it is wet and has a good water supply.
Predators: The main predator of Baird's Tapirs are humans, but pumas can attack the young.
Baby Tapir
Baird's Tapir Range Map
Baird's Tapir Searching for Food
Physical Adaptations
Behavioral Adaptations
When tapirs are disturbed they dive into water or run into thick brush. This helps them survive because if they were disturbed by a predator then they can stay safe and away from the predator. Baird Tapirs are nocturnal to avoid the hottest part of the days. This helps them survive because if they go out in the day time they could overheat and potentially die.Baird Tapirs sense of smell and their hearing are important survival adaptions. This helps them survive because they can detect potential predators and can find food. Baird Tapirs are good at running, sliding, diving, and swimming. they are agile in water and in open or closed habitats. This helps them survive because they can quickly get away from predators and stay safe. Tapirs mark their territory with urine. This helps them survive because they mark their territory where their needs for food, water, and shelter are met. Baird Tapirs sleep in wallowing holes in the dry season and near them in the wet season. This helps them survive because if they don't sleep near a water source then they could become dehydrated and potentially die.
References
For Pictures:
http://www.sibutourscostarica.com/2013/wildlife-in-costa-rica-bairds-tapirs/http://www.jarrettbellini.com/2013/03/mama-and-baby-bairds-tapir-at-nashville.html
http://www.tapirs.org/tapirs/bairds.html
For Information:
Burton, M., & Burton, R. (2002). Baird tapir. In International wildlife encyclopedia v.1 (AAR-BAR) (3rd ed., Vol. 19, pp. 2630-2632). New York, NY: Marshall Cavendish.
Tapirus bardii. (n.d.). Retrieved from Encyclopedia of Life website: http://eol.org/pages/129476/details#behavior
Wells, J. 2009. "Tapirus bairdii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 11, 2015 at http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Tapirus_bairdii/