Tapirs inhabit the tropical rain forests of both Central and South America. Their population has been dwindling since the 1940s due to habitat loss from deforestation and hunting for their meat or hides.
Today’s tapir population is estimated at between 100-150 thousand animals. In short, Tapirs are herbivores. It is likely that they eat fruit and vegetables, in addition to things like plants, bark, leaves, shoots, and grasses.
Type of Food Tapirs Eat
1. Leaves
When browsing leaves, Tapirs swish their long, flexible noses from side to side to pick up the scent of food. They then move their long muzzles into place and wrap their lips around the mouths of several leaves at once.
2 Fruits
Fruit eaters are well adapted for life in an environment with large predators. Some tapirs eat fruits that are too hard for other animals to eat. Tapirs are the largest fruit bats, and an adult could bite right through your arm.
This is because tapirs have no canine teeth, unlike other large fruit-eating mammals in South America, such as peccaries (wild pigs) and capybaras. Tapirs also eat lots of small fruits that could never be eaten by any of their competitors. This allows them to survive with a diet that is not only rich in protein but also very nutritious.
3. Plants
Tapirs are quite selective when it comes to their diet. They have been shown to use their sense of smell to find out if a plant has the protein they need. The tapir will then know whether it needs to eat the entire plant or not and in what quantities (i.e., how much).
4. Shrubs
Tapirs are selective when it comes to their diet. They have been shown to use their sense of smell to find out if a plant has the protein they need. The tapir will then know whether it needs to eat the entire plant or not and in what quantities.
5. Tree Bark
Tapirs have been shown to chew on tree bark in order to gain access to more nutritious substances within the twigs and branches. They also have a system in which they chew up the bark through the roof of their mouth and then spit the fibrous material out of their mouth.
6. Roots
Tapirs have been shown to eat shallow roots. They use their long, flexible noses to navigate through marshy areas. Their eyes and ears are covered by a large flap of skin, which allows them to dive under the surface of water without getting water in their eyes and ears.
7. Bites
Tapirs have powerful jaws that allow them to chew woody material such as tree bark with ease, as a way of getting at the nutritious substance inside it.
Are Tapirs Herbivores?
Yes, tapirs are herbivores. They are large, tree-dwelling mammals that live on a diet of fruit and vegetation. Some tapirs eat fruits that are too hard for other animals to eat.
Tapirs also consume more succulent fruits than other large fruit-eating mammals. This allows them to survive with a diet that is not only rich in protein but also high in nutrition.
How does a Tapir Eat?
In the wild, it may use its long flexible nose to sniff out food and then wrap its mouth around several different leaves or other foods at a time.
The tip of its nose is sensitive and can detect water that sits along the surrounding branches, allowing the animal to locate water without seeing it. Tapirs have been traditionally hunted for meat and fur, but the animal could still be hunted for sport.
Do Tapirs Eat Bananas?
yes, Tapirs do eat bananas, Tapirs are herbivores that scour the forest floor for food. They will pick up, sniff, and smell a plant to check if it has the nutrition they need to survive. Tapirs also have a sense of smell that enables them to detect water from the surrounding trees. This way, tapirs can find water without seeing it.
Final Thoughts
Tapirs live in the tropics of Central and South America. Tapirs are one of the largest herbivores and feed mainly on native plants. They have strong jaws, which allow them to get nutrients from their food by chewing through the tough fibers and leaves. I hope this article shed a light on what Tapirs like to eat.
Lydia King is a huge animal lover and has always been fascinated with learning about the animal kingdom. She enjoys writing about anything animal related from scientific information about rare species to animal references in pop culture.
