Tapiridae

Question 1

Are tapirs sexually dimorphic?

Answer 1

Yes - females are larger than males

Fowler 8

Question 2

Describe the appearance of the tapir cornea.

How good is their eyesight?

Answer 2

All spp have brown eyes, may have bluish corneal cloudiness (unknown etiology)

• May be associated with excessive exposure to light or trauma in captivity.
• May also be associated with a herpesvirus.
• Nocturnal nature of Malayan tapirs and dense vegetation of natural habitat may predispose these spp to keratitis in captivity where less shade is present and shifting in sleep cycle.

Fowler 8

• Monocular vision, poor eyesight. Good olfactory and auditory senses

Question 3

What is the muscular extension of the upper lip and nose of tapirs? Which species is it longer in?

Answer 3

The proboscis - longer in New World species.

Fowler 8

Question 4

Discuss the anatomy of tapir limbs and weight bearing.

Answer 4

Four hoof-like digits on the front feet, three digits on the hind.

Foot posture is plantigrade

Most of the weight is distributed on the third digit

Radius, ulna, tibia and fibula are separate.

Fowler 8

Question 5

What is the scientific name of the four tapir species?

Baird’s Tapir, Lowland Tapir, Mountain Tapir, Malayan Tapir

When are they active during the day?

What are their typical habitats?

How long do they live?

Answer 5

• General biology:
  
  • Order Perissodactyla
    
    • Odd-toed ungulates (equidae, tapiridae, rhinoceridae)
      
      • Body weight carried on central digit of the limb.
    • Family tapiridae
      
      • Four extant species
        
        • Baird’s Tapir (T. bairdii) < 5000 in wild
        • Lowland tapir (T. terrestris)
          
          • Classified as vulnerable by IUCN (other 3 endangered). All 4 endangered under the endangered species act.
        • Mountain tapir (T. pinchaque) < 2500 in wild
          
          • Above three from central and south Americas
          • New World spp
        • Malayan tapir (T. indicus)
          
          • Southeast asia
          • Old world spp
      • Fifth species recently described in the Amazon – T. kabomani
      • Distinguished from the Artiodactyla by their foot morphology and GI system.
    • All species except the mountain tapir are commonly exhibited in zoos.
  • Primarily crepuscular or nocturnal
  • Tropical forest herbivores, often inhabit aquatic habitats
  • Typically solitary apart from mother-offspring pairs
  • Lifespan: 25y in wild, 35y in captivity.