Brazilian Tapir
Anta
The Brazilian Tapir (or Anta in Portuguese), is also referred the Lowland Tapir. The Brazilian Tapir is one of four species in the tapir family The other three are the Mountain Tapir, which roam the Andes Mountains of northern South America, the Malayan Tapir, the only tapir of Asia found in Thailand, Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia, and the Baird's Tapir, which is native to Mexico and Central America.. The Brazilian Tapir is the largest wild land animal in South America.
The Brazilian Tapir is dark brown in color, with a low, erect mane running from the crown down the back of the neck. The Brazilian Tapir's body length is usually between 6 to 8 ft, with a tail of 2 to 4 inches. The Brazilian Tapir has an average weight of 595 lbs. Their height is between 2.5 to 3.5 feet at the shoulder.
The Brazilian Tapir is found near water in the Amazon Rain Forest and River Basin in South America, east of the Andes. These mammals have a range that covers parts of Venezuela, Colombia, and Guianas in the north, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, in the south, and Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador in the West.
The Brazilian Tapir is an excellent swimmer and diver, as well as being able to move quickly on land, even over rugged, mountainous terrain.
The Brazilian Tapir has a life span of approximately 25 to 30 years. In the wild, their principal natural predators are alligators and large cats such as the jaguar and cougar, who often attack the tapir at night when they leave the water and sleep on the riverbank.
Tapirs are known to run and hide in the water when scared.
The Brazilian Tapir is a herbivore. Using their mobile snout, they feed on leaves, buds, shoots, and small branches that they tear from trees, fruit, grasses, and aquatic plants.
The Brazilian Tapir's dwindling numbers are due to a combination of poaching for meat and hide, as well as habitat destruction.
The Brazilian tapir is an endangered animal species, however it has a lower risk of extinction
than the other three tapir species.
More in the next edition.
No comments:
Post a Comment