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tapir
tapir , nocturnal, herbivorous mammal, genus Tapirus, of the jungles of Central and South America and SE Asia. The tapir is somewhat piglike in appearance; however, it is not related to the pig, but to the horse and the rhinoceros, with which it forms the order of odd-toed hoofed mammals. The body of the tapir is rounded and covered with sparse fur. Its snout is long and flexible. The legs are short and end in broad feet with hoofed toes; there are four toes on the front feet and five on the hind feet. Tapirs live in dense forest, browsing by night on leaves and twigs. Usually found near water, they swim well and drink a great deal. They often take to water when threatened and can crash through thick underbrush with great speed. The Asian tapir, Tapirus indicus, of Malaya and Sumatra, is black with a white saddle extending over the rump. The adult is about 3 ft (90 cm) high at the shoulder and 6 to 8 ft (180-240 cm) long; it weighs about 400 lb (180 kg). There are three New World species. The South American tapir, T. terrestris, inhabits marshy lowlands from Colombia to N Argentina. The adult, similar in size to the Asian species, is a uniform dark brown, but the young is conspicuously striped and spotted. The Central American tapir, T. bairdi, is similarly colored but almost as large as a donkey. It is found in undisturbed rain forests from S Mexico to NW South America; because of the continuous elimination of this habitat the existence of this species is threatened. The mountain tapir, T. pinchaque, is found at high altitudes in the Andes Mts. and has thick, black fur. Tapirs were widely distributed in tropical regions until the Pleistocene epoch, when most species became extinct. They are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Perissodactyla, family Tapiridae. |
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"tapir." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "tapir." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-tapir.html "tapir." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-tapir.html |
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Tapiridae
Tapiridae (tapirs; suborder Ceratomorpha, superfamily Tapiroidea) A family of solitary, nocturnal ceratomorphs which are little different from the perissodactyl stock that lived during the late Eocene and Oligocene. Many tapir-like forms are known from the Eocene, and sometimes are grouped as Lophiodontidae. The limbs are short, with three digits on the hind feet and four on the fore feet. The digits bear small hoofs, but the soles of the feet also have thick pads. The ulna and fibula are complete and unfused. The teeth are complete in number, low-crowned, and lack cement except for the first three premolars. The nose has developed into a short, mobile trunk, with an associated shortening of the nasal bones. Tapirs live mainly in dense forest, feeding on fruit and vegetation, in tropical Central and S. America, and in south-east Asia. There are four species, in two genera, Tapirus (American) and Acrocodia (Asian).
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Tapiridae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Tapiridae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Tapiridae.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Tapiridae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Tapiridae.html |
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tapir
ta·pir / ˈtāpər/ • n. a nocturnal hoofed mammal (family Tapiridae, genus Tapirus) with a stout body, sturdy limbs, and a short flexible proboscis, native to the forests of tropical America and Malaysia. Four species include the reddish-brown or black mountain tapir (T. pinchaque), which is the smallest tapir. |
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"tapir." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "tapir." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-tapir.html "tapir." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-tapir.html |
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tapir
tapir Any of several species of nocturnal, plant-eating, hoofed mammals native to forests of tropical South America and Malaysia. The tapir has a large head, a long, flexible snout, a heavy body, short legs, and a tiny tail. Length: to 2.5m (7.5ft). Family Tapiridae; genus Tapirus.
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"tapir." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "tapir." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-tapir.html "tapir." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-tapir.html |
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tapir
tapir swine-like animal of tropical America. XVIII. — Tupi tapira.
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T. F. HOAD. "tapir." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "tapir." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-tapir.html T. F. HOAD. "tapir." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-tapir.html |
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tapir
tapir (Tapirus) See TAPIRIDAE.
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "tapir." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "tapir." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-tapir.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "tapir." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-tapir.html |
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tapir
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"tapir." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "tapir." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-tapir.html "tapir." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-tapir.html |
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