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The Malayan Tapir

 

According to the Wikipedia, "Tapirs are large browsing animals, roughly pig -like in shape but with short, prehensile trunks." Although tapirs were once widespread, only four species endured into the modern world: three in Central America and the warmer parts of South America , and one in Southeast Asia.

Note: Please print the Tapir activity guide before you go on. It will help guide your quest and provide a place to record your findings. It is in PDF format (click here if you need Acrobat Reader).

Use these web sites to aid your search:

Questions:

Classification and Range

1. What are the four species of tapirs?

2. Malayan tapirs are the only Asian species of tapirs.

3. In what three locations (where they are native to the area) are Malayan tapirs found? Here is a map of the Malayan Tapirs range.

4. Where are the other three species of tapirs found (their range)?

Habitat

5. Where do Malayan tapirs live?

  • _________________________________ of river basins or swamps
  • Lowlands to ________________________

Shoulder Height

6. How tall are adult tapirs at their shoulders?

Weight

7. How much do males and females weigh?

  • Males-_____________ pounds
  • Females-___________pounds

Life Span

8. What is the Malayan tapirs life span?

Diet

9. Tapirs are browsers and grazers. What does that mean?

10. What do tapirs eat in the wild?

Reproduction

11. How many calves does a mother normally give birth to?

12. How much does a calf weigh at birth?

What are tapirs?

13.Tapirs have a small, flexible snout and upper lips called a ______________________.

14. What kind of skin do tapirs have?

15. Tapirs are closely related to what two animals?

16. How many toes do tapirs have?

______________ toes on the front feet

______________ toes on the hind feet

17. What does each toe have?

18. What color are the front half and hind legs of a tapir's body?

19. How does this black and white pattern help the tapir?

Other facts

  • Tapirs communicate by picking up the scents of other tapirs and by making the sound of a shrill whistle.
  • Predators: leopards, tigers, humans
  • The Malayan tapir is about the size of a Shetland pony.

Threats

  • Tapirs have always been a source of food for people living in the rainforest.
  • Over hunting by outsiders is reducing the population of tapirs.
  • Destruction of the rain forest also threatens tapirs.

Glossary:

  • Dense: compact, thick, impenetrable
  • Primary: oldest, earliest
  • Browse: nibble, feed, eat, graze

Pictures of Malayan tapirs:

http://www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/asian/pix-liv/

Map of Malayan tapir's range:

http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Perissodactyla/Tapirus_indicus.html