Zebra tapir

The **zebra tapir** (*Tapirus quagga*) is a species of tapir that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across Central America, Mexico, and southeastern United States to help boost biodiversity. The zebra tapir is light brown in general color, dark in the face as well as a single stripe running down its back, and has a low, erect crest running from the crown down the back of the neck. The zebra tapir, as its name suggests, has a row of dark brown stripes on its legs and the rump, being reminiscent of the stripes of a zebra. The round, dark ears have distinctive white edges. Newborn zebra tapirs have a dark brown coat, with small white spots and stripes along the body. The zebra tapir can attain a body length of 1.8 to 2.5 meters (5.9 to 8.2 feet) with a 5 to 10 centimeters (2.0 to 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 kilograms (330 to 710 lbs). It stands somewhere between 77 to 108 cm (30 to 43 in) at the shoulder. The zebra tapir is an herbivore. Using its mobile nose, it feeds on leaves, buds, shoots, 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 zebra tapir is an excellent swimmer and diver, but also moves quickly on land, even over rugged, mountainous terrain. Zebra tapirs are generally crepuscular, although they are more active during the day than some other species of tapirs. They sleep from roughly midnight to dawn, with an additional resting period during the hottest time of the day for a few hours after noon, and prefer to bed down in areas with heavy vegetation cover. In the wild, its main predators are large predatory crocodilians and cats, such as the jaguar and cougar, which often attack zebra tapirs at night when the zebra tapirs leave the water and sleep on the riverbank. The zebra tapir is also attacked by the large species of anacondas (*Eunectes*). The zebra tapir is known to run to water when scared to take cover. Males will frequently mark their territory with dung piles, urine, and rubbings on trees, and females will sometimes engage in these behaviors, as well. The territories of individuals usually overlap, with each animal claiming over 800 hectares (3.1 sq mi), and females tend to have larger territories than males. When around other members of their species, zebra tapirs communicate through high-pitched whistles, and the males occasionally fight over estrous females by trying to bite each other's rear legs. But for the most part, zebra tapirs are shy and lead solitary lives, spending their waking hours foraging for food on their own along well-worn tapir paths. Female zebra tapirs have a 30-day estrous cycle, and typically breed only once every other year. During courtship, the male chases the female and uses soft bites, grunts, and squeals to get her attention, while the female responds with frequent squealing. After a gestation period of 392 or 393 days, the female gives birth to a single young; multiple births are very rare. Newborn zebra tapirs weigh about 5.4 to 6.2 kilograms (12 to 14 lbs) and have a brown coat with yellowish-white spots and stripes. Compared with the adults, baby zebra tapirs have thicker, woolly fur to help keep them warm due to their smaller size. Weaning begins at around three months of age. The immature coloration fades after about a year, but the mother continues to care for her young for around 18 months. Zebra tapirs reach sexual maturity at age three and have lived up to 30 years in the wild, although captive individuals have been known to live slightly longer. The conservation status of the zebra tapir is **Least Concern** due to successful conservation efforts and the zebra tapir's wide range.