By Antonia Gorog
Geographic Range
Venezuela and Colombia south to southern Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, east of the Andes
Biogeographic Regions:
neotropical 
(native ).
Habitat
The Brazilian tapir is found near rivers in mesic, transitional, and humid forest. Its typical habitat includes areas that have a rainfall of 2000 to 4000 mm, an average temperature of 27.4 degrees Celsius, and a relative humidity of 75 percent.
Terrestrial Biomes:
forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest .
Physical Description
(330 to 550 lbs)
Tapirus terrestris is 77 to 108cm at the shoulder. The total body length of females ranges to 221cm, and of males to 204cm. The tail is a short stump of approximately 8cm. The hindfeet have three hooved toes and the forefeet have an additional, much reduced, fourth toe. Coloration varies from tan to black or red. The undersides and short legs are generally dark and the cheeks, throat, and ear edges are often lighter in color. A black mane extends from the forehead to the midback. One of the most distinguishable characteristics of the Brazilian tapir is its proboscis, which is long, flexible, prehensile, and covered with sensory vibrissae. A tall sagittal crest makes the head appear convex. Females have a single pair of mammary glands. Young are colored quite differently from the adults; they are dark brown and have white spots and stripes.
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
Estrous occurs at intervals of 50 to 80 days and lasts two days. Mates attract by producing squealing and clicking calls. They mates do not stay together long. Copulation occurs in or outside of water. Gestation ranges from 335 to 439 days. Twins have been observed, but usually one young is born. Solid food does not become a large part of the diet of the young until several weeks after birth; the young nurse as long as the mother is able to produce milk. Growth is completed at 18 months. Captive females have reached sexual maturity in 23 months. The oldest known breeding individual, a captive, was bred at 28 years. Captives have lived 35 years.
Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .
Behavior
During the daylight hours, the Brazilian tapir remains hidden in forests and thick brush. At night this animal emerges to feed in grassland or scrubland. The daily movements of the tapirs produce well-worn paths that are used by hunters to track these animals. The tapir takes regular waterbaths and mudbaths which are thought to help it rid itself of ectoparasites.
Tapirus terrestris is generally solitary, and is only found in groups during the mating season. Males tend to urinate regulary in particular spots; this may be a form of communication with conspecifics. They may also posses facial glands used to scent mark. Tapirus terrestris exhibits a Flehmen response when it picks up the scent of another tapir.
Predators of the tapir include man, crocodilians, and jaguars. When surprised or frightened, tapirs will plunge into the water or brush. They are able to gallop, swim, and climb well.
Vocalizations include a shrill call, used to convey fear, pain, and appeasement, a click that may be used to identify conspecifics, and a snort that signifies aggression.
The tapir is easily domesticated.
Key behaviors:
motile .
Food Habits
Tapirs are generalized browsers and grazers. The eat fruits, leaves, stems, sprouts, small branches, grasses, aquatic plants, tree bark, aquatic organisms, and cane, melon, cocoa, rice, and corn from plantations. The bulk of their diet is green shoots of common browse plants.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
None
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The Brazilian tapir may play a key role in neotropical ecosystems; it represented 25% of the total biomass of 64 species of fauna on a ranch in the Brazilian pantanal. It has been hunted for meat, hide, and sport.
Conservation Status
The Brazilian tapir is listed as CITES-Appendix II and as U.S. E.S.A.-Endangered. Hunting for meat and hide and habitat destruction are the major threats to this animal.
Other Comments
Tapirus terrestris occurs sympatrically with T. bairdii in northwestern Colombia in the valley of the upper Rio Sinu and east of the Gulf of Uruba.
There are Pleistocene fossil remains of the Brazilian tapir from the upper Jurua region in Acre, Brazil, from Jacu Pirango in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and from Jaupaci, Brazil.
Contributors
Antonia Gorog (author), University of Michigan.
