Tapir.

Taxonomi Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Scientific Name : amalia : chordata : mammalia : perissodactyla : tapiridae : tapirus indicus

Tapirs are mammals which are often confused with hippos, anteaters and capybaras Their closest li!ing relati!es are odd"toed ungulates #hoofed animals$,horses and rhinos % uni&ue feature that tapir posess is its fleshy prehensile nose that it uses to grab lea!es and e!en use as a snor'le while swimming Their hides are !ery tough but streamlined for easy maneu!ering in the forest Tapirs are (seed dispersers ( They eat seeds that are then dispersed in their scat which helps the forest to regenerate Tapirs are herbi!ores best suited to primary or old growth secondary forest, and their reproduction is slower than most mammal species due to a long gestation period #)*

months$ and to the fact that there is only one offspring per gestation Tapirs play a critical role in shaping and maintaining the biological di!ersity of tropical ecosystems The tapir is one of the first species in its habitat to be ad!ersely affected by human disturbance because of their si+e, and because of their sensiti!ity to habitat changes ,ocal e-tinction or population decrease may trigger ad!erse effects in the habitat, causing disruptions of some 'ey ecological processes #e g seed dispersal, nutrient recycling$, and e!entually compromising the long"term integrity and biodi!ersity of the ecosystem Ecology and Behaviour .alayan tapirs are primarily " although not e-clusi!ely " nocturnal They co!er large distances in their search for food, ma'ing fre&uent stops to eat /egularly used paths are used in these foraging e-cursions, and se!eral may lead to bodies of water 0ach animal occupies a large territory which o!erlaps that of its neighbours These paths and territories are mar'ed with urine, which is sprayed on small bushes and plants 1hen mo!ing, the .alayan tapir wal's slowly with its head down, which probably allows it to pic' up the scents of other tapirs 2ndi!iduals also communicate with shrill whistles The .alayan tapir is a good climber, scaling steep slopes with relati!e ease, and when alarmed gallops off with surprising speed Tapirs and Their Connection to the Ecosystem Tapirs play a critical role in shaping and maintaining the biological di!ersity of tropical forests and function as biological indicators of area re&uirements for the ecosystem The tapir is one of the first species in its habitat to be ad!ersely affected by human disturbance because of their si+e, and sensiti!ity to changes in their habitat range ,ocal e-tinction or population decrease may trigger ad!erse effects in the forest, causing disruptions of some 'ey ecological processes #e g seed predation and dispersal, nutrient recycling$, and e!entually compromising the long"term integrity and biodi!ersity of the ecosystem These factors, added to the destruction of tapir habitat in recent years, 3ustify the urgency for in!estigation of the status of the populations, and de!elopment and implementation of conser!ation and management plans

References 0isenberg, 4 F , C P 5ro!es, and K .acKinnon )667 Tapirs In 5r+ime'8s 0ncyclopedia of .ammals Edited by S P Par'er New 9or': .c5raw":ill ;olume <, pp =6>"?7@ .ohd Khan bin .omin Khan )66> Status and action plan of the .alayan tapir #Tapirus indicus$ In Tapirs " Status Sur!ey and Conser!ation %ction

Plan 2ACNBSSC Tapir Specialist 5roup Compiled by C . Droo's, / 0 Dodmer, and S .atola 2ACN, 5land, Swit+erland and Cambridge, AK %!ailable online at http:BBwww tapirbac' comBtapirgalBiucn"sscBtsgBaction6>Bdefault htm 1ilson, C 0 , and C . /eeder EeditorsF )66* .ammal Species of the 1orld #Second 0dition$ 1ashington: Smithsonian 2nstitution Press %!ailable online at http:BBnmnhwww si eduBmsw