Tapirs are any of four living species in the Tapiridae family. Three are native to Central America and South America, with a fourth native to Southeast Asia. No matter what the species and where they live, however, all baby tapirs are absolutely adorable! Here are 8 pictures and 4 incredible facts about baby tapirs.
#1 Mother Tapirs Are Pregnant for 13 – 14 Months and Usually Have Just One Calf at a Time
In the wild, tapirs are cared for solely by their mothers.
©Mslecuona / CC BY-SA 4.0 – License
Female tapirs usually have a baby every two years.
©slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com
Most tapir babies grow up with just their mom. However, while twins are incredibly rare, they can happen. For example, a pair of tapir twins was born at the Franklin Park Zoo in 2020.
#2 Baby Tapirs Are Born Ready to Explore
This newborn tapir is only an hour old!
©belizar73/iStock via Getty Images
All tapirs have flexible feet with splayed toes and a prehensile mini-trunk.
©PixieMe/Shutterstock.com
Newborn tapirs are born fully-furred and with eyes open. They can stand up and walk within a couple of hours after birth. They can also start swimming at just a few days old, using their flexible noses like a mini snorkel!
#3 No Matter the Species, All Baby Tapirs Have Similar Watermelon-Patterned Fur
Mottled fur provides many forest-dwelling mammals with camouflage, including baby tapirs.
©Edwin_Butter/iStock via Getty Images
This Malayan tapir calf is beginning to lose its baby markings and develop the distinct black and white coat of an adult.
©Divya M Nair/Shutterstock.com
While each tapir species has a distinct adult look, their calves look remarkably similar. Baby tapirs are born with brown coats marked with white and cream spots and stripes. The pattern reminds many of a watermelon rind! The purpose of this special coat is to provide the babies with protective camouflage, as it helps them blend in with dappled sunlight on the forest floor. Young tapirs will begin to lose these markings after a few months and will look like miniature adults by around six months old.
#4 Baby Tapirs Stay With Mom for the First 12 – 18 Months of Life
The South American tapir is the widest-ranging tapir species, found across Amazonia and surrounding regions east of the Andes.
©Henk Bogaard/Shutterstock.com
The Malayan Tapir is native to Southeast Asia and is the only tapir with a black and white coat.
©Arnuparp/iStock via Getty Images
Tapirs are weaned at an average of six months of age. However, they will continue to stay with their mothers for up to a year and a half before they become fully independent. They reach sexual maturity between 3 -5 years old.
#5 Tapirs Have An Average Lifespan of 25 – 30 Years
The closest living relatives of tapirs are rhinoceroses and equids.
©hugocorzo/iStock via Getty Images
The Malayan tapir is the largest living tapir species, while the mountain tapir is the smallest.
©slowmotiongli/iStock via Getty Images
The oldest tapir on record was a Malayan tapir named Kingut, who lived to the incredible age of 42 years!
Summary
Tapirs have a gestation of about 13 – 14 months and usually give birth to a single calf. Baby tapirs are born well-developed (precocial) and able to walk and even swim soon after birth, with their mottled fur providing camouflage. They will stay with their mothers for the first 12 – 18 months of their life and reach full maturity between 3 – 5 years old. Tapirs live an average of 25 – 30 years.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © dimarik/iStock via Getty Images
How to Add Us to Google News
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.
