Amazonian Rainforest Animal Brazilian Tapir Tapirus terrestris Aaron Lam & Nathan Persich 8.1

Anatomy Looks like big pig Short Trunk 2” tail Approx. 3 ft. tall. Weighs up to 600 lbs About 6 feet in length

Where does it live? Tropical zones of mainland South America Brazil Bolivia Peru Ecuador Colombia the Guianas Venezuela Northern Argentina

Life cycle Mating any time of year 13 months later female gives birth to single calf Baby tapir independent 8 months after birth Baby tapirs have stripes and spots for camouflage. Markings fade after few months. Adult fur in a year. Tapir ready to breed in 2-3 years. Lives up to 30 years in captivity

Diet Herbivorous Eats aquatic plants, fruits, leaves, buds, shoots, grasses Walk along bottom of streams eating water plants

Habitat Somewhere with a river, creek, lake or flooded plain nearby Forest and marshy lowlands

Habits Nocturnal Loves water; can stay under for long time Rests in shade of undergrowth at day Will escape to water if threatened

Tapir’s Role In Ecosystem Spreads seeds Smash down small trees and break branches that get in the way and clear path for other animals

Threats Brazilian tapir is classified as vulnerable (at high risk of extinction in the wild) Expected population reduction of >30% in the next ten years or 3 generations, whichever is longer (up to 100 years max) Main threats are loss of habitat (deforestation) and being hunted for consumption Preyed upon by big cats (i.e. jaguar) and crocodiles

Population Estimated tapir population in Venezuela 10,000 south of Orinoco River 5,000 in Orinoco Delta

Bibliography rprintout.shtml al=Lowland+(or+Brazilian)+Tapir postcard-136.htm