Horse tapir (SciiFii)

The horse tapir (Hemitapirus hippognathus) is a large, horse-like species of tapir that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the humid grasslands and tropical savannas across South America to help boost biodiversity, though some populations are found in some regions of North America, including Florida, New Mexico, Texas, and California. The horse tapir is larger than many other tapirs, at about 290 kilograms (640 lbs) and 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) in head-to-body length. They are dark reddish-brown with a light gray underbelly and a short black mane on its head and neck. They are among the fastest herbivorous mammals, as they can run as fast as 64 km/h (40 mph) to 70 km/h (43 mph). The horse tapirs have hypsodont teeth, which allows a diet more focused on grass than leaves, similar to horses. Unlike most tapirs and due to being more adapted to savannah instead of forested environments, the horse tapirs live in large herds, led by dominant males, for protection against a wide array of predators. The horse tapir is sexually mature at two years old, and the first mating usually takes place at three to four years old. Breeding is seasonal, and the gestation period of horse tapirs is 11 months; the birth lasts a little more than 10 minutes. Mating and births occur from April to September, with an accumulation from June to July. The foal can stand and starts to nurse within 15 to 20 minutes. Females with young tend to form groups of up to five females. During rearing, a calves (young) and cows (females) remain close, but other animals and her own older offspring are displaced by the dam. Occasionally, bull males in territorial wild populations expel the young to mate with the cows again. Wild horse tapirs reach an age of 14 years, but in captivity, they can live up to 26 years. The conservation status of the horse tapir is Least Concern thanks to conservation efforts and the horse tapir's wide range.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii