The South American tapir, aka Brazilian tapir, Amazonian tapir, maned tapir, lowland tapir, anta, or la sachavaca, is the largest remaining native terrestrial mammal left in the Amazon. They face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and commercial developments, farming, ranching, and logging; hunting for their meat and hide; and vehicle strike, being hit by vehicles. The IUCN lists these magnificent beasts as Vulnerable. Their population trend is listed as decreasing.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Tapirus terrestris
Weight: Up to 710 lbs.
Length: Up to 8.2 feet
Height: Up to 43 inches, at the shoulders
Lifespan: Up to 30 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) Their specific epithet hails from “arabo kabomani”, the word for tapir in the local Paumarí language.
2.) Sexual dimorphism exists in this species, as females tend to be larger than males and have a characteristic patch of light hair on their throats.
3.) They can be found near water in the Amazon Rainforest and River Basin in South America, east of the Andes. Their range stretches from Venezuela, Colombia, and the Guianas in the north to Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay in the south, to Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador in the west.
4.) In 2024, the South American tapir was seen in the state of Rio de Janeiro for the first time since 1914. According to Marcelo Cupello, a scientist from Rio de Jaineiro’s State Environmental Institution, their return indicates that the state’s forests are once again able to sustain populations of large mammals.
5.) Black caimans, Orinoco crocodiles, jaguars, mountain lions, and green anacondas all prey on these tapirs.
But wait, there’s more on the South American tapir!
6.) Leaves, buds, shoots, small branches, fruits, grasses, aquatic plants, and a vast majority of seeds are all feasted upon.
7.) They are capable of defending themselves with their very powerful bite.
Did you know…?
In 2005, a 55 year old farmer stabbed a 400 lbs. female that was feeding in his cornfield, which it responded by repeatedly biting the man. Both died from their wounds.
8.) Females undergo up to a 13 month gestation (pregnancy) that yields a single calf.
9.) Calves weigh in at up to 15 lbs. and are weened in up to 6 months.
10.) Although humans and their development of land is their biggest foe, the region of the Amazon where these tapirs are found has also been highlighted as an area that is likely to be particularly susceptible to global warming and the ecosystem changes it brings.
Now a Short South American Tapir Video!
This video talks about tapirs in general.
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
Photo credit: Anna Schultz
