Percy's tapir (SciiFii)

The Percy's tapir (Acrocodia percyii) is a species of tapir, most closely related to the Malayan tapir (Acrocodia indica), that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across North America to help boost biodiversity, making it the only living tapir of the genus Acrocodia found in North America. The Percy's Tapir is easily identified by its markings, most notably the dark gray-colored patch that extends from its shoulders to its hindquarters. It is covered in black hair, except for the tips of its ears, which, as with other tapirs, are rimmed with white. The pattern is for camouflage; the disrupted coloration breaks up its outline and makes it more difficult to recognize; other animals may mistake it for a large rock, rather than prey, when it is lying down to sleep. The Percy's tapir grows to between 1.8 and 2.5 meters (5 feet 11 inches and 8 feet 2 inches) in length, not counting a stubby tail of only 5 to 10 centimeters (2.0 to 3.9 inches) in length, and stands 90 to 110 centimeters (2 feet 11 inches to 3 feet 7 inches) tall. It typically weighs between 250 and 320 kilograms (550 and 710 lbs), although some adults can weigh up to 540 kilograms (1,190 lb). The females are usually larger than the males. Like other tapir species, it has a small, stubby tail and a long, flexible proboscis. It has four toes on each front foot and three toes on each back foot. The Percy's tapir has rather poor eyesight, but excellent hearing and sense of smell. Exclusively herbivorous, the Percy's tapir forages for the tender shoots and leaves of more than 200 species of plants (around 75 are particularly preferred), moving slowly through the forest and pausing often to eat and note the scents left behind by other Percy's tapirs and other tapir species in the area. However, when threatened or frightened, the Percy's tapir can run quickly, despite its considerable bulk, and can also defend itself with its strong jaws and sharp teeth. Percy's tapirs communicate with high-pitched squeaks and whistles. They usually prefer to live near water and often bathe and swim, and they are also able to climb steep slopes. Percy's tapirs are mainly active at night, though they are not exclusively nocturnal. They tend to eat soon after sunset or before sunrise, and they will often nap in the middle of the night. This behavior characterizes them as crepuscular animals. Percy's tapirs are primarily solitary creatures, marking out large tracts of land as their territory, though these areas usually overlap with those of other individuals. Percy's tapirs mark out their territories by spraying urine on plants, and they often follow distinct paths, which they bulldoze through the undergrowth. The gestation period of the Percy's tapir is about 390–395 days, after which a single offspring, weighing around 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms), is born. Percy's tapirs are some of the largest of the modern-styled tapir species at birth and in general, and grow more quickly than their relatives. Young Percy's tapirs of all species have brown hair with white stripes and spots, a pattern that enables them to hide effectively in the dappled light of the forest. This baby coat fades into adult coloration between four and seven months after birth. Weaning occurs between six and eight months of age, at which time the babies are nearly full-grown, and the animals reach sexual maturity around age three. Breeding typically occurs in April, May or June, and females generally produce one calf every two years. Pervy's tapirs can live up to 30 years, both in the wild and in captivity. The conservation status of the Percy's tapir is Near Threatened due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, the Percy's tapir is a protected species.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii