Moeritherium (SciiFii)

The African tapiphant (Moeritherium lyonsi) is a species of primitive tapir-like proboscidean that originally lived during the Eocene epoch in what is now Africa and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and introduced to the modern rainforests, swamps, and mangrooves of Africa to help boost biodiversity. The African tapiphant is named for its tapir-like appearance, yet it is related to the elephant and, more distantly, sea cows and hyraxes. It is a semi-aquatic mammal that spends much of its time in the water, only coming on land to rest and to breed. Its body shape and lifestyle demonstrate convergent evolution with pigs, tapirs, and the pygmy hippopotamus. The African tapiphant is smaller than most proboscideans, standing only 70 centimetres (2.3 feet) high at the shoulder and weighing 235 kilograms (518 lb). It is a herbivore that mainly feeds on the soft vegetation, primarily aquatic plants. The African tapiphant is a social animal that lives in small herds up to around 15 at a time. The conservation status of the African tapiphant is Near Threatened due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, the conservationists have since protected African tapiphants and their natural habitats.
Category:Animals
Category:SciiFii
Category:Cenozoic Park
Category:Mammals