White-faced tapir (SciiFii)

The white-faced tapir (Tapirus albacephala) is a species of tapir that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, and forested shrublands across North America and South America to help boost biodiversity. The white-faced tapir is deep brown in color, with a white face (hence its name), and has a low, erect crest running from the crown down the back of the neck. The round, dark ears have distinctive white edges. Newborn white-faced tapirs have a dark brown coat, with small white spots and stripes along the body. The white-faced tapir can attain a body length of 1.8 to 2.5 meters (5.9 to 8.2 feet) with a 5-10 centimeter (2.0-3.9 inches) short stubby tail and an average weight around 225 kilograms (496 lbs). Adult weight has been reported ranging from 150 to 320 kg (330 to 710 lbs). It stands somewhere between 77 to 108 centimeters (30 to 43 inches) at the shoulder. The white-faced tapir is a herbivore. Using its mobile nose, it feeds on leaves, buds, roots, shoots, shrubs, and small branches it tears from trees, fruit, grasses, and aquatic plants. They also feed on the vast majority of seeds found in the forested environments. The white-faced tapir is an excellent swimmer and diver, but also moves quickly on land, even over rugged, mountainous terrain. In the wild, its main predators are large predatory crocodilians and cats, such as the jaguar and cougar, which often attack white-faced tapirs at night when the white-faced tapirs leave the water and sleep on the riverbank. The white-faced tapir is also attacked by anacondas (Eunectes). The white-faced tapir is known to run to water when scared to take cover. The white-faced tapir generally leads a solitary life, though feeding groups are not uncommon, and individuals, especially those of different ages (young with their mothers, juveniles with adults) are often observed together. The animals communicate with one another through shrill whistles and squeaks. The white-faced tapir has a symbiotic relationship with cleaner birds that remove ticks from its fur: the caracaras, the black vulture (Coragyps atratus), the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), and the American oxpecker (Occasivubuphagus manufactius) have been observed removing and eating ticks from tapirs. White-faced tapirs often lie down for cleaning, and also present tick-infested areas to the cleaner birds by lifting limbs, and rolling from one side to the other. The gestation period is about 332 days, after which one or two offsprings are born. More than two births are extremely rare, with the most babies in a single birth being known from a female living in a swamp near Orlando. The babies, as with many other species of tapir, have reddish-brown hair with white spots and stripes, a camouflage which affords them excellent protection in the dappled light of the forest. This pattern eventually fades into the adult coloration. For the first week of their lives, infant white-faced tapirs are hidden in secluded locations while their mothers forage for food, and return periodically to nurse them. Later, the young follow their mothers on feeding expeditions. At three weeks of age, the young are able to swim. Weaning occurs after one year, and sexual maturity is usually reached six to 12 months later. White-faced tapirs can live for over 30 years. The conservation status of the white-faced tapir is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the white-faced tapir's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii