Woolly tapir (SciiFii)

The woolly tapir (Primigenitapirus probosca) is a species of tapir that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the boreal, alpine, and Arctic forests and open woodlands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The woolly tapir has a distinctive thick/woolly brown fur covering its body to help keep the animal warm in freezing environments. Woolly tapirs average 2 meters (6.6 feet) in length, but can range between 1.8 and 2.5 meters (5.9 and 8.2 feet), not counting a stout tail of 31–39 centimeters (12.2–15.3 inches), and 73–120 centimeters (2.40–3.94 feet) in shoulder height. Body mass in adults can range from 150 to 400 kilograms (330 to 880 lb). Like the other species of tapirs, they have small, stubby tails and long, flexible proboscises. They have four toes on each front foot, and three toes on each back foot. Unlike most tapirs, the woolly tapirs have large humps on their backs to help store fat, similarly to bison and camelids, in order to store food in times of hardship. With the combination of thick brown fur and a hump, the woolly tapir can be mistaken for a nonnative wild boar at first glance. The woolly tapir may be active at all hours, but is primarily nocturnal. It forages for leaves, pine needles, nuts, pinecones, and fallen fruit, using well-worn tapir paths which zig-zag through the thick undergrowth of the forest. From late spring to late summer, the animal usually stays close to water and enjoys swimming and wading, on especially hot days, individuals will rest in a watering hole for hours with only their heads above water. During fall and winter, however, the woolly tapir usually tries to avoid going in the water as to avoid hypothermia. It 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 gestation period is about 400 days, after which one offspring is born. Multiple births are extremely rare. The babies, as with many 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 woolly 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. Woolly tapirs can live for over 40 years. Although the woolly tapir may possibly be threatened by climate change through global warming in the future, the conservation status of the woolly tapir is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts and the woolly tapir's wide range.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii