Tapir

While at the tapir exhibit make sure to share the following information with those that are with you. The student worksheets have blanks for them to fill in. The answers are the BOLD words in the following statements:

1. There are FIVE species of tapir. The largest species is the black-and-white MALAY tapir, which can grow up to 800 POUNDS.

2. Tapirs love the WATER and are EXCELLENT swimmers. They can even walk on the bottom of a RIVER OR LAKE pretty quickly.

3. The word "tapir" comes from an indigenous Brazilian language and means THICK. This is in reference to their HIDE.

4. Tapirs have FOUR toes on each front foot and THREE toes on each back foot.

5. When threatened, tapirs will submerge themselves in a river and use their snouts like a SNORKEL.

6. Tapirs are called GARDENER OF THE FOREST because their dung plants over 100 species of plants wherever they go.

7. According to Random House Dictionary, "tapir" can be pronounced at least two ways. It can rhyme with PAPER or with APPEAR.

BONUS:
Here's some additional information for you to share with those that are with you:

A. Tapirs are large mammals that look like wild hogs with anteater snouts. But scientists say that tapirs are neither. Scientists actually teach that tapirs are most closely related to horses and rhinos!
B. Tapirs are somewhat social creatures. They graze together in groups called a “candle”.
C. Baby tapirs look nothing like their parents. They’re born covered in black, yellow and white strips and spots! This actually serves as camouflage against hunters during these vulnerable first few months. Baby tapir calves stay with their mothers for up to 18 months.