The Brazilian Tapir (Tapirus terrestris), also known as the Lowland Tapir, is considered endangered. Although its three relatives, the Mountain Tapir, the Malayan Tapir, and the Baird's Tapir are even more endangered. Males have a Flehmen response when they smell the urine of another male. "The Flehmen response is a particular type of curling of the lips in ungulates, felids, and many other mammals, which facilitates the transfer of chemicals into the vomeronasal organ. This behavior allows animals to smell the urine of others in order to determine several factors. These factors can be the presence or absence of estrus, the physiological state of the animal, and how long ago the animal passed by. This particular response is most recognizable in stallions when smelling the urine of a mare in heat." (source)
It is being hunted for meat, hide, and sport.
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The Brazilian tapir, lowland tapir, south american tapir is listed as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Countries
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and VenezuelaSome facts about the
Brazilian tapir
Adult weight : 250 kg (550 lbs)
Maximum longevity : 37 years
Female maturity :1095 days
Male maturity : 1095 days
Gestation : 398 days
Weaning : 289 days
Litter size : 1
Weight at birth : 6 kg (13.2 lbs)
Weight at weaning : 86.26 kg (189.772 lbs)
