A Tapir May Look Like a Pig Or Anteater, but They Aren’T

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What animal looks like a pig but has a long snout like an aardvark or anteater? It is the tapir! A tapir may look like a pig or anteater, but they aren’t. Instead, tapirs are related to rhinos and horses. Tapirs have bodies that are narrow at the front and wide at the back. They have a short trunk that looks like a snout. The trunk can grip things. There are several species of tapirs. They are all about the same size. Most tapirs are 2’ to 4’ long. They usually weigh between 500 and 700 Tapir trunks are pounds! Tapirs are brownish or black and white in color. Some tapirs actually a long lip and have markings that help them hide. nose. These peaceful, shy animals are herbivores. Their diet includes grass, fruit and leaves. Their short trunks help them to grab branches so that they can eat leaves or fruit. Tapirs eat in the morning and in the evening. Tapirs are good swimmers and sometimes eat water plants. The tapir has few predators. It takes a big animal to prey on a tapir The markings on baby because tapirs are huge! Tigers and other large wild cats will tapirs help them to hide sometimes eat a tapir. Large reptiles like crocodiles and snakes will from predators. too. The tapir’s biggest predator is humans. Tapirs hide from predators. Tapirs will sometimes hide underwater to get away from danger. They use their trunk like a snorkel while they wait for the danger to pass. Tapirs have been around for 20 million years. They can only be found in a few places. These animals can be found in South America and Central America. They can also be found in Southeast Asia. Tapirs live in thick, wet jungles. Tapirs are hunted for their skin and meat. Over-hunting has caused their numbers to dwindle. Many of their habitats are being destroyed by people who are building roads and cities. Losing their habitat has also caused the tapir population to dwindle. Today, tapirs are endangered. Mountain Tapir Brazilian Tapir Malayan Tapir

Use the passage The Endangered Tapir to answer these questions.

1. What are tapirs? Use details and information from the text to support your answer.

2. The article contains words that some readers may be unfamiliar with. What is the meaning of the underlined words in the text?

3. Authors choose text features to teach readers about the topic. What can you learn from the pictures and captions in “The Endangered Tapir”?

4. What is special about the tapir’s trunk? Use details and information from the text and photograph to support your answer.

5. Today tapirs are endangered. What information and key details does the author use to support this idea? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: • Tapirs are large animals; however, they still have predators. Based on the information in the article, what predators are a threat to tapirs? How do they defend or protect themselves? • Tapirs are herbivores. What other animals are herbivores? Do these animals protect themselves in similar ways? • There are several species of tapirs. What do all tapirs have in common? How do they differ?