Central American tapir

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Central American tapir
Central American tapir

Central American tapir

Systematics
Subclass : Higher mammals (Eutheria)
Superordinate : Laurasiatheria
Order : Unpaired ungulate (Perissodactyla)
Family : Tapirs (Tapiridae)
Genre : Tapirs ( tapirus )
Type : Central American tapir
Scientific name
Tapirus bairdii
( Gill , 1865)

The Central American tapir , even Baird tapir named ( Tapirus bairdii ) is a mammal of the family of tapirs (Tapiridae). It is widespread in Central America and occurs there both in the lowlands and at altitudes of 3600 m. The representatives of the tapir species live solitary and feed mainly on soft vegetable food. The population of the Central American tapir is considered to be threatened, which is due to the destruction of habitats, often tropical rainforests . The scientific name honors the American zoologist Spencer Fullerton Baird (1823-1887).

anatomy

Habitus

Central American tapir

With a head-torso length of around 200 cm, a body height of up to 120 cm and a weight of 150 to 300 kg, the Central American tapir is not only the largest New World tapir, but also the largest wild mammal in the American tropics ( Neotropis ). It looks very similar to the lowland tapir ( Tapirus terrestris ), but is larger and has a shorter mane. The skin is very thick, especially on the back of the body. The fur is characterized by a dark brown tint, the cheeks and throat are distinctive yellowish-gray. As is typical for tapirs, the Central American tapir has a clumsy body structure with slim but strong legs. The front feet end in four and the hind feet in three toes, the tail is only a short stub. As with all tapirs, the face is characterized by the short trunk.

Skull and dentition features

Skull of the Central American Tapir ( Museum Wiesbaden Collection )

The skull of the Central American tapir is around 40 cm long and relatively narrow. In contrast to the lowland ( Tapirus terrestris ) and the mountain tapir ( Tapirus pinchaque ) but this does not have a distinctive head crest , but the side-faceted brain capsule bony protrusions (parasagittal back), between which a flat apex level is. The occiput has a rather rectangular shape and is short. Likewise, the nasal bone , which is typically far behind the intermaxillary bone of the tapirs , is significantly shortened and is one of the most reduced of all tapirs. The reduction of individual bones in the front of the face is a result of the development of the trunk, which is a fusion of the nose with the upper lip.

The lower jaw is up to 31 cm long and has a rather low bone body. The bit is only slightly reduced, as with all tapirs and has in adult individuals following dental formula . The outer incisors of the upper jaw (I3) are significantly enlarged and conical in shape, while all others, including those of the lower jaw, are rather small. For this, the canine in the lower jaw is also enlarged and faces the outer incisor of the upper jaw, while the upper canine is reduced in size. There is a small diastema between the incisors and the canines , while a much larger one is formed towards the rear teeth. The premolars and molars are very similar. They have a low tooth crown ( brachyodont ) and have two transverse enamel ridges ( bilophodont ) with small cusps at each end on the chewing surface .

Sensory performances and vocalizations

The sense of sight in the Central American tapir, as with all tapir species, is rather poor, but hearing works very well. The main olfactory communication , however, takes place via the nose. The tapir representative uses a high-pitched, high-pitched whistle to draw the attention of conspecifics to himself from a greater distance. Various alarm or stress sounds are also known.

distribution and habitat

Distribution area

The Central American tapir is widespread from the southern part of Mexico via Central America to northwestern Colombia at the western foot of the Andes . A frequently assumed settlement of the coastal regions of Ecuador in historical times could not be confirmed according to recent studies. It occurs, among other things, in the lowland regions of the Petén and the Yucatán peninsula , where its habitat preferably includes tropical rainforests . In the Central American mountain landscape, however, it can also be detected up to an altitude of 3600 m above sea level. Here it lives mainly in mountain cloud forests, some of which are very humid and have an annual rainfall of up to 2,600 mm. However, secondary forests and partly bush landscapes are also populated. The tapir species is often found near bodies of water.

The population density of the Central American tapir is relatively low. As a rule, there is only one animal per 4 km², in some areas even only on 20 km². The low population density is due to the clearly fragmented and widely scattered habitats that were created by the expansion of human settlements.

Way of life

Territorial behavior

The Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica is home to a population of the Central American tapir

Like all tapirs, the Central American tapir is a nocturnal loner who retreats into the thicket during the day. He can swim well and often digs in the mud. Tapir groups only occur during the rutting season or as a mother-young animal relationship. The representatives of the Central American tapir live territorially in territories . Those of the males are on average 1.5 km², those of the females are only slightly smaller at 1 km². The areas partially overlap at the borders. The variation in the size of a territory over the year fluctuates only slightly. A district usually includes different types of vegetation , ranging from forests to bushes and grasslands, but sufficient water is a basic requirement. When hiking to the various activity zones, such as feeding, resting or swimming areas, an animal creates paths that are probably less strictly re-used than with the mountain tapir. However, as with the other tapir species, these are also marked with feces and urine , which often occurs near water. The Central American tapir regularly uses the same places, so that after a while high piles of waste arise. The piles of feces also serve as an important intra-species communication medium .

Diet

The Central American tapir is a specialized herbivore and feeds on leaves , fruits , twigs and other parts of plants. Fibrous plant parts make up almost half of the food consumed. The preference for a soft vegetable diet can also be seen in the anatomy of the low-crowned teeth with the enamel cusps and ridges on the chewing surfaces and the trunk-like nose and upper lip. Depending on the region, 30 to more than 60 plant species from up to 20 families are known to be consumed by the Central American tapir, the total number of species is given as more than 90. These include Aronstab- , Brechnuss- or Gesneriad , further also beech plants and grasses . In addition, fruits such as B. from the genus Licania , an important role depending on the region. Due to its migrations, the Central American tapir also spreads numerous plant species via re-excreted seeds , as has been proven in the pearly apple tree . The search for salt or mineral licks, which play an important role in the other tapir species, has not yet been observed in the Central American tapir. The fact that the tapir species may not use such places could be related to the often more coastal distribution and the predominance of limestone-rich rock formations in the Central American highlands.

Reproduction

The Central American tapir is sexually mature when it is at least three years old. In the female animal, the rut begins every 25 to 38 days and lasts for about a day. During this time, the males court the female. The gestation period after copulation , which can sometimes also take place in water, lasts between 384 and 399 days. As a rule, the mother animal gives birth to a single young animal. Like all tapir calves, this is provided with a light, camouflaging stripe pattern that disappears during the second half of its life. The calf remains in hiding for the first ten days, then it actively follows the mother. At around one year old, the young animal is finally weaned and independent. The highest age that could be determined in the Central American tapir is 31 years.

Interactions with other animal species

The Central American tapir is a very shy animal that often retreats into the bushes or water or tends to flee when threatened. The only predators are the jaguar and the puma , but if necessary the tapir species can defend itself well with its powerful teeth. Attacks by the Central American tapir on humans are very rare.

Parasites

Like the other tapir species, the Central American tapir is attacked by numerous parasites . Ticks in particular play a major role. This is particularly true of the genera Amblyomma , Ixodes and Dermacentor , some of which also transmit diseases.

Systematics and tribal history

Internal system of the genus Tapirus (only recent representatives) according to Cozzuol et al. 2013
  Tapirus  


 Tapirus bairdii


   

 Tapirus kabomani


   

 Tapirus pinchaque


   

 Tapirus terrestris





   

 Tapirus indicus



Template: Klade / Maintenance / Style

The Central American tapir belongs to the genus of tapirs ( Tapirus ) within the family of the Tapiridae. The tapir family is part of the odd-toed ungulates and, together with the rhinos as their closest living relatives, forms the group of the Ceratomorpha , whose sister taxon in turn form the Hippomorpha with the horses . Within the genus Tapirus , the Central American tapir is placed by some experts in the subgenus Tapirella , while the two South American species belong to the subgenus Tapirus .

The genus Tapirus itself is very old in phylogenetic terms and appeared in Europe as early as the Miocene . Today's five representatives of the genus have different degrees of relationship. According to molecular genetic studies, the Asian tapir ( Tapirus indicus ) first separated from the tapir lineage 21 to 23 million years ago, followed by the Central American tapir 19 to 20 million years ago. Much later, namely only around 3.5 million years ago, the South American representatives split off. The immigration of the genus Tapirus to North America was probably a unique event and took place in the late Miocene. The oldest evidence comes from Nebraska with Tapirus johnsoni and is between 11 and 9 million years old. The Central American tapir is much more closely related to the fossil North American tapirs of the late Miocene to Pleistocene than to today's from South America. The closest related species are Tapirus haysii and Tapirus veroensis , but also the dwarf tapir Tapirus polkensis .

Further genetic analyzes showed a significantly lower variability within the Central American tapir than with the other American tapir representatives. The occurrence of two separate groups could be determined, which separated around 2.4 million years ago. One of the groups lives in Mexico and Guatemala in the northern part of the distribution area and split up again around 600,000 years ago. The second group includes the southern populations, which also experienced a further split around 1.7 million years ago. The low genetic diversity is possibly due to a collapse of the population in the past and is exacerbated by the fragmentation of the settlement area.

Hazard and protection

Central American tapir in the Belize Zoo

The IUCN lists the Central American tapir as endangered . The total population is estimated at less than 5500 animals, with larger populations still in Mexico with around 1500 individuals and Guatemala , Costa Rica and Panama with 1000 individuals each. The Central American tapir has completely disappeared in El Salvador . The Miskito region from Honduras to Nicaragua is significant , where large groups of the Central American tapir can still be found in a contiguous area. The total population collapsed after 70% of the rainforests of Central America were destroyed in the second half of the 20th century through the expansion of agriculture , traffic routes and the expansion of human settlement, resulting in a strong fractionation of habitats. Other threats include hunting and targeted killing by humans, which is illegal in most countries, as well as disease transmission through domestic cattle and other farm animals.

There are several safeguards for the Central American tapir coordinated by the IUCN's Tapir Specialist Group . An important aspect is the reintroduction of the tapir species in El Salvador, possibly in the El Imposible National Park or in the Barra de Santiago nature reserve - Sector Santa Rita , where the last footprints of the Central American tapir were discovered between 2002 and 2004. For protection and research purposes, camera traps have been set up in many national parks in Central America at strategically important locations for the tapir species , which allow the animals to be observed in the wild. In order to investigate and determine the population density in individual areas, the traces and remains of activity are also analyzed, which can help to stabilize the individual stands.

literature

  • Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c Sharon Matola, Alfredo D. Cuarón and Heidi Rubio-Torgler: Status and Action Plan of Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdi). Tapirs Specialist Group: Tapirs: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. 1997 ( [1] )
  2. ^ Luke T. Holbrook: The unusual development of the sagittal crest in the Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris). Journal of Zoology 256, 2002, pp. 215-219
  3. ^ A b Luke T. Holbrook: Comparative osteology of early Tertiary tapiromorphs (Mammalia, Perissodactyla). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 132, 2001, pp. 1-54
  4. ↑ Richard C. Hulbert Jr .: A new Early Pleistocene tapir (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from Florida, with a review from Blancan tapirs from the state. Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History 49 (3), 2010, pp. 67-126
  5. ^ Richard C. Hulbert Jr .: Late Miocene Tapirus (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from Florida, with description of new species Tapirus webbi. Bulletin of the Florida. Museum of Natural History 45 (4), 2005, pp. 465-494
  6. ^ A b Sharon Matola: Central American Tapir Activity in Upper Macal and Raspaculo River Valley. Tapir Conservation 11 (2), 2002, p. 16
  7. ^ Emilio Constantino: Current Distribution and Conservation Status of the Colombian Lowland Tapir (Tapirus terrestris colombianus) and the Baird's or Central American Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in Colombia. Tapir Conservation 14 (1), 2005, pp. 15-19
  8. ^ A b c Mathias W. Tobler: Habitat Use and Diet of Baird's Tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) in a Montane Cloud Forest of the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica. Biotropica 34 (3), 2002, pp. 468-474
  9. ↑ José F. González-Maya, Jan Schipper and Karla Rojas-Jiménez: Elevational Distribution and Abundance of Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) at different Protection Areas in Talamanca Region of Costa Rica. Tapir Conservation 18 (1), 2009, pp. 29-35
  10. ↑ Kevin Flesher: Preliminary notes on the conservation status of Baird's tapir Tapirus bairdii in north-eastern Honduras. Oryx 33, 1999, pp. 294-300
  11. ^ A b Charles R. Foerster and Christopher Vaughan: Home Range, Habitat Use, and Activity of Baird's Tapir in Costa Rica. Biotropica 34 (3), 2002, pp. 423-437
  12. ↑ Feng Mei Wu Chen: Ecology of the Central American Tapir (Tapirus bairdii, Tapiridae) on a High Elevation Mountain Cloud Forest of Costa Rica. In: Fourth International Tapir Symposium in Xcaret, Quintana Roo, Mexico April 26 - May 1st, 2008, Book of Abstracts. 2008
  13. ↑ Georgina O'Farril, Sophie Calmé and Andrew Gonzalez: Manilkara zapota: A New Record of a Species Dispersed by Tapirs. Tapir Conservation 15 (1), 2006, pp. 32-35
  14. ↑ Olga Lucia Montenegro: The behavior of Lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) at an natural mineral lick in the Peruvian Amazon. University of Florida 1998 (p. 7) ( PDF )
  15. ↑ Janine L. Brown, Scott B. Citino, Jackie Shaw and Chriss Miller: Endocrine Profiles During the Estrous Cycle and Pregnancy in the Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii). Zoo Biology 13, 1994, pp. 107-117
  16. ↑ Ulrich Schürer : Old age with a Central American tapir, Tapirus bairdii (Gill, 1865). The Zoological Garden NF 80, 2011, p. 370
  17. ↑ Keith Williams and Manolo Garcia: The Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii). on the homepage of the IUCN Tapir Specialist Group ( [2] ), last accessed on May 2, 2019
  18. ↑ Nereyda Estrada: Humans Attacked by a Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in the Sierra de Agalta National Park, Olancho, Honduras. Tapir Conservation 15 (2), 2006, pp. 13-14
  19. ↑ Marcelo B. Labruna and Alberto A. Guglielmone: Ticks of New World Tapirs. Tapir Conservation 18 (1), 2009, pp. 21-28
  20. ^ A b Mario A. Cozzuol, Camila L. Clozato, Elizete C. Holanda, Flávio HG Rodrigues, Samuel Nienow, Benoit de Thoisy, Rodrigo AF Redondo and Fabrício R. Santos: A new species of tapir from the Amazon. Journal of Mammalogy 94 (6), 2013, pp. 1331-1345 ( [3] )
  21. ↑ Miguel Padilla, Robert C. Dowler and Craig Downer: Tapirus pinchaque (Perissodactyla: Tapiridae). Mammalian Species 42 (863), 2010; Pp. 166-182
  22. ^ Mary V. Ashley, Jane E. Norman and Larissa Stross: Phylogenetic Analysis of the Perissodactylan Family Tapiridae Using Mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase (COII) Sequences. Journal of Mammalian Evolution , 3 (4), 1996, pp. 315-326
  23. ↑ Jane E. Norman and Mary V. Ashley: Phylogenetics of Perissodactyla and Tests of the Molecular Clock. Journal of Molecular Evolution 50, 2000, pp. 11-21
  24. ^ Matthew Colbert: New Fossil Discoveries and the History of Tapirus. Tapir Conservation 16 (2), 2007, pp. 12-14
  25. ↑ M. Ruiz-García, C. Vásquez, M. Pinedo-Castro, S. Sandoval, A. Castellanos, F. Kaston, B. de Thoisy and J. Shostell: Phylogeography of the Mountain Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) and the Central American Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) and the Origins of the Three Latin-American Tapirs by Means of mtCyt-B Sequences. Anamthawat-Jónsson (Ed.): Current Topics in Phylogenetics and Phylogeography of Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems. 2012, ISBN 978-953-51-0217-5 , ( online )
  26. ^ A. Castellanos, C. Foerster, DJ Lizcano, E. Naranjo, E. Cruz-Aldan, I, Lira-Torres, R. Samudio, S. Matola, J. Schipper and J. Gonzalez-Maya: Tapirus bairdii in der IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, Version 2012.2, last accessed on February 23, 2013
  27. ↑ Edmundo Sánchez-Núnez, Rodrigo Samayoa-Valiente, Stefany Henríquez-Ortiz and Verónica Guzmán-Serrano: About the possible Return of Baird's Tapir to El Salvador. Tapir Conservation 16 (1), 2007, pp. 20-23
  28. ↑ Christopher A. Jordan, Kara J. Steven1, Gerald R. Urquhart, Daniel B. Kramer and Kirkman Roe: A New Record of Baird's Tapir Tapirus bairdii in Nicaragua and Potential Implications. Tapir Conservation 19 (1), 2010, pp. 11-15
  29. ↑ José F. González-Maya, Jan Schipper and Karla Rojas-Jiménez: Elevational Distribution and Abundance of Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) at different Protection Areas in Talamanca Region of Costa Rica. Tapir Conservation 18 (1), 2009, pp. 29-34.

Web links

Commons : Central American tapir ( Tapirus bairdii )  - collection of images, videos, and audio files