the tapirs forms the order of the Unpaarhufer together with the rhinoceroses and the horses.
Tribal-history The geologically old tapirs were very species-rich once, only exists from 4 of the type Tapirus of added to types, that can be considered "living fossils", today, however, because the first real tapirs existed in the oligocene from Europe, Asia and North America already approximately 40 million years ago. Today, the tapirs only live in southeast-Asia in South America and with one with 3 types.
Shape With a body-height of 75-120 cm, tapirs are well boar-big and weigh according to type between 225 kg and over 300 kg. its length amounts to 180-250 cm, the stub-shaped tail reaches approximately 10 cm. The females usually become negligibly bigger than the males. The skull is long and slim, with short bridges. This is the prerequisite for the development of this of the trunk of reorganized nose and waiter-lip.
The massive torso rests on short legs, whose feet in front with 4 behind and with 3 toes busy is. The nails, particularly this of the body-fundamental middle toes, form horse-good hooves. The sole-bales are protected by a callous cornea. Under a thin, little resistant waiter-skin, a strong one sits, thickens, leathery sub-skin. The fur consists of sparse Grannenhaar and is brown with the South American forms monochrome until brown-black, with the Schabrackentapir black with silver-gray "Schabracke" at backs, flank and stomach.
Way of life Tapirs live from leaves, fresh instincts, branches, grass and game-fruits as well as swamp and water-plants. they prefer habitats at waters, like to swim and swim well. As a loner, they hardly take care of Artgenossen. One single young comes to the world after a Tragzeit of 390-400 days. It carries a characteristic brown-white, frischlingsähnliches youth-dress. Further sees among lowland-tapir, mountain-tapir, Baird-Tapir and Schabrackentapir.
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