Tapirus+Indicus-Elliott

Tapirus Indicus Tim

 * Kingdom~** __Animalia__
 * Phylum~** __Chordata__
 * Class~** __Mammalia__
 * Order~** __Perissodactyla__
 * Family~** __Tapiridae__
 * Genus~** __Tapirus brisson__
 * Species~** __Tapirus indicus__

**Habitat**
The Tapir is native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. It lives near systems of freshwater and terrestrail. Terrestrial means on the earth. The Malayan Tapir typically likes tropical moist forest areas. It lives in regions of lowland forests and mountian forests. More of the tapirs are moving into the mountian forests because humans are destroying their lowland homes.

The age to maturity is 2 1/2 years to 3 1/2 years, with gestation taking place whithin 390 to 403 days. Breeding occurs from April to June. One baby is born at a time. The lapse between births is 2 years. Young calves stay with their mother for 6 to 8 months. the maximum age is 30 years in captivity. They usually weigh between 250 to 300 kg (550 to 660 lbs).
 * Reproduction, Growth and D****evolpment**

All of the tapirs in this family have long noses to grasp food with. They all are about the same size with short stumpy legs. The malayan tapir is the largest of all the species. It has a short black coat with a white colored saddle. This color combination makes it look like a baby panda and elephant cross. The baird's tapir has a brown fur coat whith cream colored markings on its face and throat. There is a dark spot on each cheek, behind and below the eye. It also has a brush-like mane and white ear tips. The lowland tapir can either have a bristly brown or dark gray coat. There is a short narrow mane on the head and the anterior back. It also has a unique sagittal neck crest. The mountian tapir is a dark reddish-brown. It has a thick wooly coat with under-fur. Its lips are outlined in white.
 * Description of tapiridae**

They walk with their snout close to the ground so that they can detect food, predators, and other tapirs. They move in a zig-zag while constantly foraging. They are good swimmer and even better divers. Tapirs can hold their breath for 40 to 60 seconds. The tapir will dive into water when being chased.
 * Movement**

The males are slightly smaller than the females by about 5 or 6 pounds.
 * Sexual Dimorphism**

The malayan tapir has a diet that includes leaves, buds, grasses, soft twigs, aquatic plants and fruits of low-growing shrubs. Its favorite food is green shoots. It eats by nibbling on the food it grabs with its nose.
 * Diet**

One adaptation is that the tapir moves with its nose to the ground so that it can sense objects and other animals. A second adaptation is that when chased by a predator it will dive into the water. One last adaptation is that they are nocturnal and they always use the same paths so it knows it is reliable for food.
 * Adaptations**

The malayan tapir is a part of the order of perissodactyla. This includes the 4 species of tapir, horses, rhinos, and donkeys. It also includes the zebra.
 * Odd-toed Ungulates**

Links
 * Reference**