Tapirus

Genus of tapir

Tapirus

Temporal range: 16–0 Ma

PreꞒ

Miocene – Recent

South American tapir, a type species of Tapirus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Mammalia
Order:  | Perissodactyla
Family:  | Tapiridae
Genus:  | Tapirus
Brisson, 1762[1]
Type species
Hippopotamus terrestris
(=today is Tapirus terrestris)

Linnaeus, 1758

Species

* T. bairdii
* T. indicus
* T. pinchaque
* T. terrestris

For extinct species, see text

Synonyms[1]

About 12

* Acrocodia Goldman, 1913 (also as an independent genus[2] or subgenus[3])
* Chinchecus Trouessart, 1898
* Cinchacus Gray, 1873
* Elasmognathus Gill, 1865
* Hydrochoerus Gray, 1821 (nomen nudum)
* Pinchacus Hershkovitz, 1954 (also as an subgenus of Tapirus[3])
* Rhinochoerus Wagler, 1830
* Syspotamus Billburg, 1827
* Tapir Blumenbach, 1779
* Tapyra Liais, 1872
* Tapirella Palmer, 1903 (also as an subgenus of Tapirus[3])
* Tapirussa Frisch, 1775

Tapirus is a genus of tapir which contains the living tapir species. The Malayan tapir is usually included in Tapirus as well, although some authorities have moved it into its own genus, Acrocodia.[2]

## Extant species

[edit]

Image | Common name | Scientific name | Distribution

|
|
|

| Baird's tapir (also called the Central American tapir) | Tapirus bairdii (Gill, 1865) | Mexico, Central America and northwestern South America.
| South American tapir (also called the Brazilian tapir or lowland tapir) | Tapirus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) | Venezuela, Colombia, and the Guianas in the north to Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay in the south, to Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador in the West
| Mountain tapir (also called the woolly tapir) | Tapirus pinchaque (Roulin, 1829) | Eastern and Central Cordilleras mountains in Colombia, Ecuador, and the far north of Peru.
| Malayan tapir (also called the Asian tapir, Oriental tapir or Indian tapir) | Tapirus indicus (Desmarest, 1819) | Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand

The Kabomani tapir was at one point recognized as another living member of the genus, but is now considered to be nested within T. terrestris.[4][5]

## Evolution

[edit]

The genus Tapirus first appeared during the Middle Miocene (around 16-10 million years ago), known fossils in both Europe (T. telleri) and North America (T. johnsoni and T. polkensis).[6] The youngest tapir in Europe, Tapirus arvernensis became extinct at the end of the Pliocene, around 2.6 million years ago.[7] Tapirus dispersed into South America during the Early Pleistocene as part of the Great American Interchange, around 2.6-1 million years ago.[8]

Tapirs suffered considerable extinctions at the end of the Pleistocene, and went completely extinct north of southern Mexico.

### Fossil species

[edit]

* †Tapirus arvernensis Croizet & Jobert, 1828
* †Tapirus augustus Matthew & Granger, 1923 \- Formerly Megatapirus
* †Tapirus californicus Merriam, 1912
* †Tapirus cristatellus Winge, 1906
* †Tapirus greslebini Rusconi, 1934
* †Tapirus haysii Simpson, 1945
* †Tapirus johnsoni Schultz et al., 1975
* †Tapirus lundeliusi Hulbert, 2010
* †Tapirus merriami Frick, 1921
* †Tapirus mesopotamicus Ferrero & Noriega, 2007
* †Tapirus oliverasi Ubilla, 1983 \- Invalid[9][10]
* †Tapirus polkensis Olsen, 1860
* †Tapirus rioplatensis Cattoi, 1957
* †Tapirus rondoniensis Holanda et al., 2011
* †Tapirus sanyuanensis Huang & Fang, 1991[11]
* †Tapirus simpsoni Schultz et al., 1975
* †Tapirus sinensis Owen, 1870[11]
* †Tapirus tarijensis Ameghino, 1902
* †Tapirus veroensis Sellards, 1918
* †Tapirus webbi Hulbert, 2005

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Grubb, P. (2005). "Order Perissodactyla". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 633\. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
2. ^ a b Groves, C.P.; Grubb, P. (2011). Ungulate Taxonomy (PDF). Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 18–20. ISBN 978-1-4214-0093-8. LCCN 2011008168. OCLC 708357723. OL 25220152M. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-12-26.
3. ^ a b c Hulbert, Richard C. (2010). "A new early Pleistocene tapir (Mammalia: Perissodactyla) from Florida, with a review of Blancan tapirs from the state" (PDF). Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History. 49 (3): 67–126\. doi:10.58782/flmnh.ezjr9001.
4. ^ Ruiz-García, Manuel; Castellanos, Armando; Bernal, Luz Agueda; Pinedo-Castro, Myreya; Kaston, Franz; Shostell, Joseph M. (2016-03-01). "Mitogenomics of the mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque, Tapiridae, Perissodactyla, Mammalia) in Colombia and Ecuador: Phylogeography and insights into the origin and systematics of the South American tapirs". Mammalian Biology. 81 (2): 163–175\. Bibcode:2016MamBi..81..163R. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2015.11.001. ISSN 1616-5047.
5. ^ "All About the Terrific Tapir | Tapir Specialist Group". Tapir Specialist Group. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
6. ^ Pandolfi, Luca; Sorbelli, Leonardo; Oms, Oriol; Rodriguez-Salgado, Pablo; Campeny, Gerard; de Soler, Bruno Gómez; Grandi, Federica; Agustí, Jordi; Madurell-Malapeira, Joan (January 2023). "The Tapirus from Camp dels Ninots (NE Iberia): implications for morphology, morphometry and phylogeny of Neogene Tapiridae". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 21 (1). Bibcode:2023JSPal..2150117P. doi:10.1080/14772019.2023.2250117. ISSN 1477-2019.
7. ^ Cirilli, Omar; Pandolfi, Luca; Bernor, Raymond L. (December 2020). "The Villafranchian perissodactyls of Italy: knowledge of the fossil record and future research perspectives". Geobios. 63: 1–21\. Bibcode:2020Geobi..63....1C. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2020.09.001. S2CID 228974817.
8. ^ Holanda, Elizete Celestino; Ferrero, Brenda Soledad (March 2013). "Reappraisal of the Genus Tapirus (Perissodactyla, Tapiridae): Systematics and Phylogenetic Affinities of the South American Tapirs". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 20 (1): 33–44\. doi:10.1007/s10914-012-9196-z. hdl:11336/18792. S2CID 15780542.
9. ^ Holanda, E.C.; Ferrero, B.S. (2012). "Reappraisal of the Genus Tapirus (Perissodactyla, Tapiridae): Systematics and Phylogenetic Affinities of the South American Tapirs". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 20: 33–44\. doi:10.1007/s10914-012-9196-z. hdl:11336/18792. S2CID 254697945.
10. ^ Holanda, E.C.; Rincón, A.D. (2012). "Tapirs from the Pleistocene of Venezuela". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 57 (3): 463–473\. doi:10.4202/app.2011.0001. S2CID 54846719.
11. ^ a b Tong, H. (2002). "On fossil remains of Early Pleistocene tapir (Perissodactyla, Mammalia) from Fanchang, Anhui". Chinese Science Bulletin. 47 (7): 586–590\. Bibcode:2002ChSBu..47..586T. doi:10.1360/02tb9135 (inactive 12 July 2025). S2CID 128416226.`{{cite journal}}`: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)

* v
* t
* e

Extant Perissodactyla (Odd-toed ungulates) species by suborder

* Kingdom Animalia
* Phylum Chordata
* Class Mammalia
* Infraclass Eutheria
* Superorder Laurasiatheria

Hippomorpha

Equidae
(Horse family)|

| Equus
(including Zebras)|

* Subgenus Equus: Wild horse (E. ferus)
* Przewalski's horse (E. f. przewalskii)
* Domestic horse (E. caballus)

* Subgenus Asinus: African wild ass (E. africanus)
* Donkey (E. asinus)
* Onager (E. hemionus)
* Kiang (E. kiang)

* Subgenus Hippotigris: Plains zebra (E. quagga)
* Mountain zebra (E. zebra)
* Grévy's zebra (E. grevyi)

|

Ceratomorpha

Rhinocerotidae
(Rhinoceroses)|

| Rhinoceros|

* Indian rhinoceros (R. unicornis)
* Javan rhinoceros (R. sondaicus)

|

Dicerorhinus|

* Sumatran rhinoceros (D. sumatrensis)

Ceratotherium|

* White rhinoceros (C. simum)

Diceros|

* Black rhinoceros (D. bicornis)

Tapiridae (Tapirs)|

| Tapirus|

* Baird's tapir (T. bairdii)
* Mountain tapir (T. pinchaque)
* South American tapir (T. terrestris)
* Malayan tapir (T. indicus)

|

Category

* v
* t
* e

Perissodactyla

* Kingdom: Animalia
* Phylum: Chordata
* Class: Mammalia
* Order: Perissodactyla

Perissodactyla

| Incertae sedis|

* †Ghazijhippus
* †Mesolambdolophus
* †Olbitherium

|

†Anthracobunia|

* Radinskya

†Anthracobunidae|

* Anthracobune
* Hsanotherium
* Jozaria
* Obergfellia

†Cambaytheriidae|

* Cambaytherium
* Kalitherium
* Nakusia
* Perissobune

†Brontotheriidae|

*     * See Brontotheriidae

Equoidea|

* †Cymbalophus
* †Hallensia
* †Pliolophus
* †Systemodon

Equidae|

*     * See Equidae

†Palaeotheriidae|

| †Pachynolophinae|

* Anchilophus
* Bepitherium
* Eurohippus
* Hyracotherium
* Lijiangia
* Lophiohippus
* Lophiotherium
* Metanchilophus
* Orolophus
* Pachynolophus
* Paranchilophus
* Propalaeotherium
* Qianohippus

|

†Palaeotheriinae|

* Cantabrotherium
* Iberolophus
* Idiodontherium
* Leptolophus
* Mekodontherium
* Metaplagiolophus
* Palaeotherium
* Paraplagiolophus
* Plagiolophus
* Pseudopalaeotherium

†Hyopsodontidae?|

* Aletodon
* Chacomylus
* Dorraletes
* Haplaletes
* Haplomylus
* Hyopsodus
* Litomylus
* Louisina
* Monshyus
* Paratricuspiodon
* Paschatherium
* Phenacodaptes
* Tricuspiodon

†Phenacodontidae?|

* Tetraclaenodon

†Meniscotheriinae|

* Ectocion
* Meniscotherium

†Phenacodontinae|

* Almogaver
* Copecion
* Eodesmatodon
* Lophocion
* Phenacodus

Tapiromorpha|

*     * See below↓

Tapiromorpha

| Incertae sedis|

* †Cambaylophus
* †Skopaiolophus

|

†Isectolophidae|

* Chowliia
* Gandheralophus
* Karagalax
* Meridiolophus
* Orientolophus
* Sastrilophus

†Homogalaxinae|

* Homogalax

†Isectolophinae|

* Isectolophus
* Schizolophodon

†Ancylopoda|

*     * See Ancylopoda

Ceratomorpha|

| Tapiroidea|

| †Deperetellidae|

* Bahinolophus
* Deperetella
* Irenolophus
* Teleolophus

|

†Helaletidae|

* Colodon
* Dilophodon
* Helaletes
* Heptodon
* Heteraletes
* Paracolodon
* Plesiocolopirus
* Thuliadanta?
* Vastanolophus

Tapiridae|

* †Eotapirus
* †Miotapirus
* †Nexuotapirus
* †Paratapirus
* †Plesiotapirus
* †Protapirus
* †Tapiravus
* Tapirus

Rhinocerotoidea|

*     * See below↓

Rhinocerotoidea

Rhinocerotoidea sensu lato

* †Breviodon
* †Fouchia
* †Minchenoletes
* †Siamolophus
* †Triplopus
* †Yimengia

†Indolophidae|

* Indolophus

Rhinocerotoidea
sensu stricto|

* †Selenaletes

†Hyrachyidae|

* Hyrachyus

†Eggysodontidae|

* Allacerops
* Eggysodon
* Guangnanodon
* Proeggysodon

†Hyracodontidae|

* Ardynia
* Ephyrachyus
* Epitriplophus
* Hyracodon
* Prohyracodon
* Rhodopagus
* Triplopides

†Amynodontidae|

* Amynodontopsis
* Armania
* Cadurcotherium
* Caenolophus
* Huananodon
* Hypsamynodon
* Procadurcodon
* Rostriamynodon
* Teilhardia

†Amynodontinae|

* Amynodon

†Cadurcodontini|

* Cadurcodon
* Lushiamynodon
* Sharamynodon
* Sianodon

†Metamynodontini|

* Gigantamynodon
* Megalamynodon
* Metamynodon
* Paramynodon
* Zaisanamynodon

†Paraceratheriidae|

| †Forstercooperiinae|

* Forstercooperia
* Gobicerops
* Pappaceras

|

†Paraceratheriinae|

* Aralotherium
* Dzungarotherium
* Juxia
* Paraceratherium
* Urtinotherium

Rhinocerotidae|

*     * See below↓

Rhinocerotidae

Rhinocerotidae

* †Amphicaenopus
* †Epiaceratherium
* †Guixia
* †Teletaceras
* †Uintaceras
* †Woodoceras

†Aceratheriinae|

* Aceratherium
* Acerorhinus
* Alicornops
* Aphelops
* Chilotheridium
* Chilotherium
* Floridaceras
* Galushaceras
* Hoploaceratherium
* Mesaceratherium
* Peraceras
* Persiatherium
* Plesiaceratherium
* Ronzotherium
* Shansirhinus
* Sinorhinus
* Subchilotherium

†Elasmotheriinae|

* Gulfoceras
* Victoriaceros

†Diceratheriini|

* Diceratherium
* Penetrigonias
* Skinneroceras
* Subhyracodon
* Trigonias

†Elasmotheriini|

* Bugtirhinus
* Caementodon
* Elasmotherium
* Hispanotherium
* Iranotherium
* Kenyatherium
* Meninatherium
* Menoceras
* Ninxiatherium
* Ningxiatherium
* Ougandatherium
* Parelasmotherium
* Procoelodonta
* Sinotherium
* Tongxinotherium

Rhinocerotinae|

* †Dromoceratherium
* †Lartetotherium
* †Molassitherium
* †Protaceratherium

†Teleoceratini|

* Aprotodon
* Brachydiceratherium
* Brachypotherium
* Diaceratherium
* Prosantorhinus
* Shennongtherium
* Teleoceras

Rhinocerotina|

| Dicerorhinini|

* †Coelodonta
* Dicerorhinus
* †Dihoplus
* †Pliorhinus
* †Stephanorhinus

|

Dicerotini|

* Ceratotherium
* Diceros
* †Miodiceros
* †Paradiceros

Rhinocerotini|

* †Gaindatherium
* †Nesorhinus
* Rhinoceros
* †Rusingaceros

Taxon identifiers

Tapirus|

* Wikidata: Q128001
* Wikispecies: Tapirus
* ADW: Tapirus
* BioLib: 33420
* BOLD: 3307
* CoL: 7SQ4
* EoL: 15578
* EPPO: 1TPIRG
* GBIF: 7939585
* iNaturalist: 43352
* IRMNG: 1303166
* ITIS: 926066
* MSW: 14100037
* NCBI: 9800
* Paleobiology Database: 43137

Authority control databases

National|

* Germany

Other|

* NARA
* Yale LUX

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*[†]: Extinct